Bone marrow donors

Bone marrow tissue, found in the hollow centre of our long bones, is the factory where new blood cells are made. Without marrow, our bodies would be unable to produce the white cells we need to fight infection, the red blood cells we need to carry oxygen and the platelets we need to stop bleeding.

Certain types of illnesses and treatments can destroy the bone marrow, including leukaemia and aplastic anaemia. This leaves the patient unable to produce the new blood cells they need to fight infection and recover.

Donating bone marrow can save another person's life. Bone marrow donors are matched with patients who require a transplant to survive a serious blood disorder.

Leukaemia

Leukaemia is a cancer of the bone marrow cells. Sometimes, it is necessary to destroy the patient’s diseased bone marrow and replace it with a transplant from a healthy compatible person.

Aplastic anaemia

Some people may stop making blood for a variety of reasons and this is known as aplastic anaemia. Blood transfusions may be helpful for a time, but severely affected patients will die unless normal bone marrow is transplanted.

Defective immune systems

Some children are born without an adequately functioning immune system. Modern blood transfusion methods can help, but the most serious cases will only respond to a bone marrow transplant.

What does the donor do?

After an interview, a blood sample is taken for tissue typing. The result is then put on a confidential computer record. When a patient needs a transplant, a number of possible donors will be asked to attend for additional blood tests to identify the donor with the best match. In practice, the chance of being selected as a bone marrow donor is relatively small.

As with blood donors, bone marrow donors will be required to answer specific questions relating to the risk of transmitting infections to the person who receives the donation.

How is the bone marrow removed from the donor?

Due to the amount of marrow required, the donor is given a general anaesthetic. Under operating theatre conditions, marrow is withdrawn from the hipbones by syringe. This is easily done without causing any damage, but the donor may feel some discomfort for a day or two.

Who can help?

You can, if you are aged between 18 and 50, and in good health with no history of cancer.

How are donors and patients matched?

Just as there are many red cell groups, known as blood groups, there are a variety of white cell groups known as tissue types. In the same way as a blood transfusion needs to be matched for a particular blood group, bone marrow transplants need to be matched for their tissue types. The best match is usually found from a family member (brothers and sisters). Unfortunately, only one in four people has a suitable donor.

Because there are a great number of tissue types, it takes an extremely large register of donors (many thousands) to find a matched donor for unrelated people.

How is a bone marrow transplant done?

The person is given a high dose of chemotherapy or radiotherapy to destroy diseased cells and then the donor’s marrow cells are injected into a vein just like a blood transfusion.

Confidentially is assured

The Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is confidential and only the Tissue Typing Laboratory will be able to identify you and your tissue type.

The Fight Cancer Foundation

The work of the Fight Cancer Foundation (formerly the Bone Marrow Donor Institute) includes:

• Promoting the recruitment of potential bone marrow donors
• Established the BMDI Cord Blood Bank – a bank of umbilical cords which may also be used for a life saving transplant
• Funding research into leukaemia other cancers of the blood, breast cancer, better treatment methods and to ultimately find a cure
• Established BMDI Rotary House (North Melbourne) – a ‘home away from home’ for people and their families to stay while they undergo long-term treatment for life-threatening illnesses
• Established Fight Cancer Foundation’s John Opie House (Hobart) for patients and their carers who need to go to Hobart for their treatment
• Construction is underway for the Fight Cancer Foundation Albury/Wodonga Accommodation Centre, for people in south east New South Wales and north east Victoria.
• Supporting people and their families at the Foundation’s accommodation centres
• The Fight Cancer Foundation’s Breast Cancer Support Group that provides an ongoing education, information and support network, to enable any woman with breast cancer to make an informed decision on her choice of treatment.

Where to get help

• Fight Cancer Foundation (03) 9342 7888

Things to remember

• Some illnesses and treatment require bone marrow transplants.
• Joining the bone marrow donor register may mean you can save someone's life.
• Exact tissue matches outside families are very hard to find.
• The register is totally confidential.

You might also be interested in:

• Bone cancer.
  
• Bone marrow.
  
• Circulatory system.
  
• Leukaemia.
  
• Multiple myeloma.
  

Want to know more?

Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:

(Logo links to further information)

Fight Cancer Foundation

Last reviewed: November 2011

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Donating bone marrow can save another person's life. Bone marrow donors are matched with patients who require a transplant to survive a serious blood disorder.

Content on this website is provided for education and information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your qualified health professional. Content has been prepared for Victorian residence and wider Australian audiences, and was accurate at the time of publication. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users are urged to always seek advice from a qualified health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.

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