Since 1968, when the University of Minnesota performed the first successful bone marrow transplant, thousands of lives have been changed. Since then, marrow transplants have been used to treat patients diagnosed with leukemia, aplastic anemia, lymphomas, multiple myeloma, immune deficiency disorders, and some solid tumors such as breast and ovarian cancer.
Julee Darner, donor services coordinator for University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, talks about marrow transplants:
What is bone marrow?
Bone marrow is the liquid substance found inside the bones that produces blood cells for our body. When a person needs a bone marrow transplant, it’s usually because they have a disease that affects their ability to produce healthy blood cells.
How are the stem cells in marrow collected?
There are actually two ways to collect the stem cells.
- One way is through marrow donation, which is done as an outpatient in a surgical setting under anesthesia. The marrow is collected through a large-needle syringe inserted into the pelvic bone.
- The second way is to donate stem cells is by receiving injections of a medication that causes those stem cells in the marrow to mass produce so that they flow out into the blood stream. They are then collected through a blood donation procedure that separates the stem cells from the rest of the blood cells. So this type of donation is similar to a plasma or platelet donation.
Are donors usually related to the patient receiving the transplant?
Actually, about 70 percent of patients who need a transplant do not have a family-matched donor, so they really depend on a total stranger who just happens to match their unique tissue type. This donor is found through searching the National Marrow Donor Program, and the donor who most closely matches the patient’s tissue type will be contacted and asked to donate either marrow or blood stem cells.
Who can be a donor?
Anyone who is between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health can join the Iowa Marrow Donor Program and become part of the international registry of donors who are willing to donate to anyone they might match.
When someone donates, does their body produce more cells?
Yes, our body produces marrow to replace what’s been donated in about two weeks. In the case of blood stem cell collection, since our body is making extra stem cells prior to donation, it’s the extra cells that are removed during the donation.
How does the transplant take place?
For the patient receiving the new marrow or blood stem cells, it’s simple compared to what they’ve already been through. They’ll have an IV placed and will receive the donated cells through an IV and the new stem cells will find their way through the patient’s blood stream, into their marrow cavity. The new cells will begin to grow in about two to three weeks.
What are the chances of long-term survival for the patient?
For patients who’ve received an unrelated donation, long-term survival—which means survival beyond five years—is about 30 to 60 percent, depending on their disease. But we have to remember that without a transplant, their chances of survival are near zero.
For people who donate and patients who receive a marrow or stem cell donation, is it worth it?
Very much, yes! When you realize that by taking a little time and donating some of yourself to someone who will surely die without a transplant, it’s an amazing thought. We recently had an unrelated donor and her recipient meet for the first time and to hear their stories, you realize how life-altering it truly is. These patients are without hope and they’re given the gift of a second chance at life. And that affects not only them, but their families and their friends far into the future, and the donors are really blessed with the knowledge that they have given life and hope to this family.
How do people register to donate?
It’s very easy to register. You can just call our office at 319-356-3337 or 800-944-8220 and request information on how to become a donor. We’ll send you an application form that asks for your name, address, contact information, and some health information. When we receive that from you, we’ll send you a kit that includes cotton swabs (you don’t even need to have blood drawn to join anymore); just swab your cheek cells and mail it back to us and you’ll be on the national registry. |
