Getting involved with Marrow Mates is easy and essential to help support blood cancer patients in need. Here are some ways you can contribute:

1. Become a Marrow Donor: If you're interested in becoming a potential stem cell or marrow donor, you can register with organizations like Be The Match or your country's equivalent. Marrow Mates can guide you through the process.
2. Donate to Marrow Mates: Your financial contributions can help Marrow Mates in their donor recruitment and support efforts. Donations can be made directly on their website.

Healthy blood cells are needed to live and when diseases or cancer of the blood (leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell are a few examples) cannot function properly, a transplant from a healthy donor is not just a treatment option, but can be a patient's CURE.

A transplant takes place when an individual (donor) who shares nearly identical cells to a searching patient, agrees to donate their healthy blood forming stem cells. The patient (recipient) undergoes high doses of chemotherapy to remove their cancerous cells and the body is prepared to accept the donor's cells. On transplant day, the donor's cells are collected at a medical facility then transported to the recipient where they receive these healthy cells via intravenous (IV) catheter.

Your bone marrow is the spongy substance located inside the larger bones of your body. The marrow is where the blood stem cells are created and become either red cells to oxygenate the body, white cells to fight infections or platelets to clot your blood when injured.

A stem cell donation (used 90% of the time) is where cells are awakened into the bloodstream and removed via apheresis which is similar to a blood donation. A bone marrow donation (used in 10% of collections) refers to a surgical procedure, under general anesthesia, in which cells are extracted directly from your pelvic bone.

When searching for a compatible donor, doctors look at the part of your DNA that regulates your immune system. Your human leukocyte antigen (HLA) markers are inherited, meaning you are much more likely to share similar combinations of these markers with people of the same or similar ethnicity.

Odds vary depending on ethnicity, but a global average of 1-in-300 people get notified that they are a potential match for a searching patient. Being called as a match means you are a close HLA match for a patient, but this does not alway result in a transplant.

If called, the next step is to test your blood in greater detail to ensure that you are the best possible match for the patient. If more than one match is found, the patient's doctor and transplant center will determine which donor may provide the patient with the best outcome.

Every donor's experience is different, but in most cases stem cell donors describe an achy feeling for a couple of days leading up to the collection. If you're asked to donate bone marrow, you’ll be under general anesthesia and may experience achy or soreness for a couple of days following the procedure. Either way, it’s nothing compared to what the patient endures while fighting their cancer.

The cells you donate are reproduced by your own body within a couple of weeks.

As long as your contact information is current, there’s no need to join a second registry if asked to do so, as the international community shares databases about their willing registered potential donors.

There are currently 80 different types of blood cancers and blood disorders that a transplant can be a curative procedure for. With advancements in cellular therapies, additional ailments may benefit from a transplant such as Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy and Parkinson’s Disease.

You’ve most likely been contacted as a result of a genetic relative who’s in need of a transplant but once registered you agree to help any searching patient in need.

As younger donors have fewer health complications and more active stem cells, those aged 18-40 are best suited based on clinical statistics. But once on a registry, a potential donor can be considered and is eligible to donate until age 60.

No. All expenses related to your stem cell/marrow donation are covered and paid for by either the registry or the searching patients’ insurance. There are zero out of pocket costs to the donor and your healthcare is of utmost importance to all involved. After all, if you’re notified that you’re a perfect match for a patient and you agree to donate – You’re a hero to a stranger in need.