The bone marrow donation consists of the removal of a small sample of cells from the hip bone or the bone located in the middle of the breast, the sternum, which cells are responsible for the production of blood cells, which are then used in bone marrow transplants bone for the treatment of certain diseases of the blood such as leukemia and some cancers such as lymphoma and myeloma, and in some cases may represent the cure for some of these diseases.
Bone marrow donation can be done by any healthy person, between 18 and 65 years and weighing more than 50 kg. In addition, the donor can not have bloodborne diseases such as Aids, Hepatitis, Malaria or Zika for example, or others such as rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis B or C, kidney or heart disease, type 1 diabetes, or history of cancer such as leukemia, for example.
How to become a donor
To become a bone marrow donor, it is necessary to register at the hemocenter of your state and then schedule a collection of blood in the center so that a small sample of 5 to 10 ml of blood is collected, which must be analyzed and the results placed in a specific database.
After that, the donor can be called at any time, but it is known that the probability of a patient finding a bone marrow donor without being a family is very low, so it is essential that the bone marrow database be the most complete possible.
Whenever a patient needs a bone marrow transplant, it is first checked in the family if there is someone compatible to donate, and only in cases where there are no compatible relatives, will another donor be sought in that database.
When I can not donate bone marrow
Some situations that may prevent the donation of bone marrow, for periods ranging from 12 hours to 12 months, such as:
- Common cold, flu, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, tooth extraction or infections: prevents donation in the next 7 days;
- Pregnancy, normal delivery, by cesarean or abortion: prevents donation between 6 to 12 months;
- Endoscopy, colonoscopy or rhinoscopy examinations: it prevents the donation between 4 to 6 months;
- Risk situations for sexually transmitted diseases such as multiple sexual partners or drug use for example: prevents donation for 12 months;
- Performing a tattoo, putting on some piercing or performing some acupuncture treatment or mesotherapy: prevents donation for 4 months.
These are just a few situations that can prevent bone marrow donation, with the same restrictions for blood donation. See when you can not give blood to Who can give blood.
How bone marrow donation is made
Bone marrow donation is usually done through a small surgical procedure that does not hurt because general or epidural anesthesia is used in which multiple injections are made to the hip bone to remove the blood-producing cells. This procedure lasts approximately 90 minutes, and within three days of the intervention, there may be pain or discomfort at the site that can be alleviated with the use of analgesic drugs.
In addition, there is another less common way of donating bone marrow, which is done through a procedure called apheresis, in which a machine is used that separates the cells from the bone marrow needed for transplantation. This procedure takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and its implementation involves the taking of drugs that stimulate the production of cells in the bone marrow.
Does bone marrow donation have risks?
Bone marrow donation is risky because there is always the possibility of some reaction to the anesthesia or some reaction due to the volume of blood withdrawn. However, the risks are minimal and the complications that can arise can be easily controlled by the doctors who perform the procedure.
How is recovery after donation
During recovery after surgery for bone marrow donation, some rather unpleasant symptoms such as back or hip pain or discomfort, excessive tiredness, sore throat, muscle aches, insomnia, headache, dizziness or loss of appetite may appear, which although normal can cause discomfort.
However, these unpleasant symptoms can be easily minimized with simple care, such as:
- Avoid making efforts and trying to get plenty of rest, especially during the first 3 days after giving;
- Maintain a balanced diet and eat every 3 hours if possible;
- Increase the consumption of foods with healing properties like milk, yogurt, orange and pineapple and drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day. See other foods with post-operative benefits in Healing foods.
In addition, after making a bone marrow donation you do not have to change your daily habits, and you should only avoid physical exertion and exertion in the first few days after the donation. Generally, at the end of a week there are no symptoms, and it is possible at the end of that time to return to all normal activities of the day to day.
