How much do you know about blood stem cell donation?

There are lots of myths out there about who can do it and what happens when you do. Take a look at the list below to make sure you know the reality.

Myth: You have to be the same blood group as the patient to be a matching donor.
Reality: Matching is performed by tissue type not blood group. However, some patients do take on the blood group of their donor, after the transplant.

Myth: Blood stem cell donation always requires surgery.
Reality: There are two ways to donate. You could do it through a vein in your arm which is non-surgical, known as a Peripheral Blood Stem Cell donation, or you could do it through a donation of bone marrow which does require surgery. The way you donate is requested by the patient’s doctor but you have the final decision.

Myth: Donating bone marrow involves removing bone from your body.
Reality: Bone marrow is a pulpy tissue found inside long bones. Bone marrow is like a factory where red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets are made. No actual bones or parts of bone are removed from the body.

Myth: Donating blood stem cells involves a lengthy recovery period.
Reality: Depending on how you donate, you could expect to be back to normal in between 1-10 days.

Myth: You can only donate to a member of your own family.
Reality: Only 30% of patients needing a transplant will find a matching donor from within their own family, generally from a sibling. 70% of people who need a transplant have to rely on the kindness of a stranger to save their life.

Myth: Donating blood stem cells is painful.
Reality: People who have donated via the bone marrow method compared the after-effects to a hard game of football. Many donors find the experience fulfilling and for some, it’s life-changing.

Myth: You have to be dead to donate blood stem cells.
Reality: All donations come from live donors.