You've Been Matched as a Bone Marrow Donor

The decision to donate bone marrow is extremely significant, not only for you but also for the patient whose life is at risk.

Once you sign the consent form, the patient will begin receiving treatments to prepare his/her body for the transplant. These treatments usually include chemotherapy or radiation aimed at destroying the patient’s stem cells.

A donor may withdraw from the process at any stage; however, if the patient has already started the preparatory treatment and does not receive the stem cell donation, their life will be in serious danger. Therefore, before deciding to donate, it is important that you have all the necessary information to make an informed choice.

Things to consider before giving your consent:

•    Time commitment – You will need to set aside time for a preliminary meeting at the collection center, which includes medical tests, as well as for the donation day itself.

•    Possible side effects – Certain stages of the donation process may cause physical discomfort.

•    Emotional impact – Giving a life-saving donation is a significant event that may evoke mixed emotions, including excitement about the opportunity to save a life and anxiety about the process. The registry team and the collection center staff will be by your side and support you throughout the entire process.

The donation process is carried out in one of two ways:

•    Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) donation, which is requested in most cases

•    Bone marrow donation

The type of stem cell collection required is determined by the patient’s physician. You will receive full information about the collection method needed and the reasons for this choice.

You may choose your preferred donation method. If you agree to only one specific type of donation, you must inform the physician at the collection center.

Peripheral blood stem cell donation 

Blood cells in the body are produced in the bone marrow from “stem cells,” but they also exist in the bloodstream in very small amounts. To enable stem cell donation from peripheral blood—and make the process easier and non-surgical—the number of stem cells in the bloodstream must be temporarily increased by administering injections of a substance called G-CSF. This substance is naturally produced in the body in smaller quantities and stimulates stem cells to multiply in the bone marrow and move into the bloodstream, where they can be collected.

To mobilize stem cells from the bone marrow into the blood, you will receive injections for four days prior to the donation date. These injections are subcutaneous and given in the arm. The first injection will be administered at a clinic near your home, and the remaining injections can either be self-administered after proper instruction from the medical staff or given by the medical team at your location.

Donation Procedure

During collection, a needle will be inserted into each arm. Blood will flow from a vein in one arm through a tube into a machine that separates stem cells from other blood components. The stem cells will be collected into a special bag, while plasma and red blood cells will be returned to your body through a vein in the other arm. After the donation, the bag of cells will be sent to a laboratory for initial processing, testing, and preparation for shipment to the transplant center, where the cells will be infused into the patient.

Bone Marrow Stem Cell Donation

This method is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia in a hospital. Stem cells are collected by direct aspiration from the pelvic bones, without the need for injections. The amount of marrow taken is small, and the bone marrow regenerates quickly.
Bone marrow donation takes place in the hospital, and you must arrive after fasting for 8 hours (water is allowed up to 3 hours before the procedure). Eating or drinking the night before may delay the donation. Typically, hospitalization lasts from early morning until late afternoon, and you will be accompanied by a collection center representative. Most donors are discharged within 6 hours after the procedure and return home the same day.

For peripheral blood stem cell donation, full recovery usually takes about a week. On the day of donation, it is recommended to eat a full dinner, drink at least 8–10 glasses of water, and avoid alcoholic beverages. You may use pain relievers that do not contain aspirin and resume light physical activity about 1.5 hours after donation if you feel well. Avoid intense physical activity or anything that risks abdominal injury for about two weeks.

For bone marrow donation, you can usually leave the hospital about 6 hours after the procedure. Most donors experience some sensitivity and pain in the lower back, as well as fatigue and difficulty walking. Non-aspirin pain relievers can help. Discomfort may last a few days up to two weeks. Over 90% of donors return to their normal routine after one day of rest. During the week following donation, avoid strenuous physical activity and any risk of abdominal injury.

Travel expenses will be reimbursed at the end of the process.

Most employers provide paid leave for donation related absence. Check with your employer whether your workplace has a policy regarding bone marrow or stem cell donation. The registry will provide you with an official donation confirmation letter that you can submit to your employer.

For stem cell donation during military service, according to the agreement with the IDF, recovery days (“Gimelim”) are granted. For peripheral blood stem cell donation, six recovery days are provided—covering the four days of injections, the donation day, and the day after.

For bone marrow donation, seven recovery days are granted after the procedure. The registry will provide an official confirmation letter that you can submit to the responsible authority in your unit.

It’s difficult to predict the outcome of a transplant in advance, as it depends on many factors, including the type and stage of the disease, the patient’s overall health, and age. In any case, by donating, you have done everything possible. The success of the transplant does not depend on you.

About a year after your donation, you can contact the registry coordinator to inquire about the recipient’s medical condition. If we have information, we will update you.

The registry assists with transplants for patients worldwide and is committed to protecting the privacy of both patients and donors. If both parties wish to establish contact, the registry can help facilitate communication and arrange a meeting at Ezer Mizion’s Cancer Support Center, at least one year after the donation.

Stem cell donation does not endanger the donor, but it may cause temporary physical discomfort. The substance injected during the preparation process to stimulate stem cell production can cause flu-like symptoms and bone pain.

The stem cell donation procedure is similar to platelet donation: a needle is inserted into a vein, young cells are collected from the blood, and the remaining blood is returned to the donor. The donated cells regenerate in the donor’s body within a short time.