Anthony Nolan Trust-Donor

[muchlovex]

Hello,
I am about to sign up to become a bone marrow donor. I would love to be able to help save someones life.

I would just like to know if anybody on this site has been a donor for the Anthony Nolan Trust and what it felt like and how you felt after the procedure.

TIA
x

[mycats]

I sent away for the information to register on there but got really angry when I read that NO-ONE who was gay or had ever had gay sex (even protected) could ever donate.
Now I'm not gay, never have been lol, but that really annoyed me.

[gina32]

but did you still donate?

[mycats]

no I didnt actually. But now I've been told I cant ever donate blood either (because I had a blood transfusion) so I am bthinking about donating.
I'm angry at the trust, not the people who will need the bone marrow

[4getmenot]

me too read my posts from yesterday mycats. And I would love to donate bone marrow but unfortunately the amount of time needed off work I just cant do

[rabbitygirl]

This subject was discussed recently. Marrow donation is not like giving blood. A blood sample is taken by such as the Anthony Nolan Trust and details kept. It is actually quite unlikely you will be called.
I gave a further sample once because I was one of many who could be a possible match for someone but wasn't close enough. Just once in all the years since I registered when the Trust first began.

[theonlyone]

A guy I worked with was a donor , and saved a life , he had time off work but the company used as good PR so every one was awinner .

[campbellking]

Also got called back for further testing, but wasn't selected.

[tickledtrout]

I have been on the register for years and got called back for furher testing once. Apparently I'm to old now to donate bone marrow!

[SRH]

When you sign up it's just a normal blood test - which is easy peasy!

Like everyone else on here I've never donated myself, but from what the Anthony Nolan Trust told me when I signed up the procedure is done under general anaesthetic and you feel bruised for around a week after (around the hip bones where they put the needles in to extract the bone marrow). It's not a major operation but causes a small amount of discomfort. I figured in the end that this is pretty minor compared to how you could affect or even save someone's life.

Good luck and well done for signing up - the more people we get on board the more lives we can save!

[meglet]

Mycats, the restrictions on donations for gay men are due to regulations from the World Health Organisation. They have to abide by them so you can't blame the Anthony Nolan Trust.

[steveie42uk]

I have just joined especially to ansewer your question.I have actually donated stem cells in august 2007.in short wow wot a fantastic life experiance.I was on the regester for nearly 30 years and did have 3 or 4 near misses(so you other people dont give up) b4 I was lucky enough to be a match.it is uncofortable but by no means painfull you are treated better than royalty by the nolan people.I do not know whether it was successfull a may never but I do know I have given some one hope and at least extended thier life a bit longer.I can go into more detail if I get any responce to this.good luck and sighn up 7000 world wide waiting for a match!!!!!!!!!