How many times could I be a match?

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Out of over 600 Anthony Nolan donors a year, on average four or five of these individuals go on to donate to a second person. We won’t ask you to donate to more than two people.

Can I stay on the register?

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You will be kept in reserve for your current recipient for 2 years after your donation. After those 2 years, we'll pop you back on the general register so you could potentially donate to another patient.

Some health conditions may affect whether you can remain on the register, and some conditions could also impact your recipient, so it's important you keep in touch with us and let us know of any changes to your health in the future.

If you have any questions, please contact the Donor Follow Up team on 020 7284 8249 or at donor@anthonynolan.org

When will my recipient have the transplant?

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This depends on whether the donation was due to be ‘fresh’ or ‘cryopreserved’: 

  • If it was a fresh donation, your recipient will receive the transplant of your donated cells within 72 hours of your donation – it’s all very quick!
  • If you were told that your donated cells were due to be cryopreserved (frozen), one of the Donor Follow Up team will be in touch in a few weeks to let you know the outcome of your donation.
    • In some very rare cases the recipient may become too unwell for transplant and your stem cell donation may not be used. If this happens, we will be in touch and you will be supported by our team as we understand this can be upsetting news to receive.  

Will the person I’ve helped need me again?

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You may be asked to donate again if your recipient needs a top up or another stem cell transplant: 

  • In about 5% of cases, a second stem cell donation is needed, and this is usually within a year of the first donation.
  • In about 15% of cases, a top-up of white blood cells (lymphocytes) may be requested after your first donation. Lymphocyte donation could happen as part of the original treatment plan or where a recipient’s disease returns, and their body needs an extra boost. 

If you would like to talk to one of the team about this or if you have changed your mind about donating again, contact the Donor Follow Up Team on 020 7424 6568 or donor@anthonynolan.org

Is the chatbot secure?

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Yes. The chatbot is designed with your security in mind. It doesn’t store sensitive personal data or share your information. It’s a safe way to get help with general questions.