Why do I have to be willing to donate in two different ways? (Peripheral blood stem cell collection (PBSC) and bone marrow harvest.)
Either form of donation can be successful for transplant purposes but in certain situations the transplant doctor may specify that one method is the better option for their patient.

Is donating painful?
It’s not as bad as many people think. PBSC donors usually have flu-like symptoms while they are getting the injections to stimulate their production of stem cells. These will usually go away within 24 hours of the last injection. After bone marrow harvests, short term lower back discomfort is common.

What will happen with my stem cells?
Your stem cells will be infused into the recipient’s blood stream within days of donating. If the recipient’s body accepts them, the stem cells will start producing healthy blood cells. This will allow the body to carry oxygen round the body and fight infection. Please note, as Anthony Nolan is linked to other registers around the world, your donation could be sent to a patient in need abroad.

If I donate, how long will it take my body to replace the donated stem cells?
The body begins to replace the stems cells immediately with levels returning to normal after an average of 21 days.

I’m 41 and healthy. Why can’t I join the register?
It costs at least £100 to add each person to our register. It can take many years for a person to be identified as a match but we have to remove them when they reach the age of 60. We need to make sure that our potential donors can stay on the register for as long as possible.
 
If you would like to support us please consider setting up a direct debit and you’ll help us save more lives across the UK. You can also support Anthony Nolan by volunteering or fundraising.

If I donate, will the person who gets my stem cells know who I am?
No, both you and the person you are helping will remain anonymous. This makes sure no one feels under pressure. For two years after the procedure, you will only be able to contact each other through messages sent via our team. After two years, and only if both of you agree, you can exchange contact details.

Why do you need to recruit more men than women?
We particularly need to recruit more men aged 18-30 as they tend to be bigger and produce more stem cells than women. Young men are overwhelmingly more likely to be chosen by clinicians as a match for a patient in need of a transplant but at the moment they only account for 12% of the donors on our register.
 
I’m already an organ donor – does that mean I’m automatically on the Anthony Nolan register?
No it does not. Even if you are an organ or blood donor, you will still need to apply to join the Anthony Nolan register.

I’m already on the British Bone Marrow Registry – do I need to join the Anthony Nolan register too?
No. You only need to be on one donor register as they are both searched for matches for a patient.

Do I have to be deceased to donate stem cells?
No. Unlike organ donation, we can only take stem cell donations while the donor is still alive.
Are there any long term health risks associated with receiving granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)?
G-CSF is the naturally occurring growth hormone used to increase the number of circulating stem cells in peripheral blood stem cell donations. Based on available data from healthy people who have received G-CSF, we have not identified any long term risks. But a donation is not completely risk free and we continually monitor any developments in this area. As part of our post-donation assessment, we collect data both nationally and internationally to establish the long term effects of receiving G-CSF. You can also find more information at The World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) website. Anthony Nolan is working as part of a WMDA subgroup which are currently updating information in this area as there is now more data which supports the safety of G-CSF.

Do women need to have had children to be eligible to donate?
No. Both women who have and have not had children are eligible to donate. If you are pregnant you may join the register, but will not be eligible to donate until your baby is one year old.