specific illnesses. For example, Black people are more likely to be diagnosed with sickle cell anemia than other ethnicities and yet if they need a bone marrow transplant, they may have to wait for some time to find a match.
What To Expect From The Procedure
There are two ways in which doctors can collect bone marrow cells. The more common procedure is called leukapheresis or peripheral blood stem cell collection. In this one, you’ll need to take specific shots for five days for five days before the procedure. These shots will help stem cells move from the marrow to the blood.
At the time of collection, some of your blood will be removed via an IV. The blood will then be sent through a machine that separates the white blood cells that contain the stem cells from everything else. Your red blood cells will be returned to you using another IV while the white blood cells will be given to the recipient at a later point.
Leukapheresis can take three to six hours and some people may undergo multiple sessions depending on how much bone marrow is needed. As with any procedure, there may be side effects so some of the issues you may experience include headaches, sore bones, and soreness at the sites of the IV needles. However, it’s usually an outpatient procedure that allows you to go home on the same day.
The second option is a bone marrow harvest, which is a minor surgery that has to be done under general anesthesia. In this procedure, a surgeon removes bone marrow directly from your pelvic bones. It should last for about an hour. You’ll remain in the hospital until you’re awake and can eat or drink. Some of the side effects of this procedure include nausea, headache, fatigue, and bruising at the site of the harvesting.
There are few risks to donating bone marrow but you can discuss these with your doctor.
Thousands of Americans need bone marrow transplants each year but they’re unlikely to find a match if they’re Black. That’s why it’s a good idea for you to talk to your doctor about donating. The process is simple and you could save someone’s life if there’s a match.