Anthony Nolan Trust - Bone Marrow Donors

[Spruance]

The following was posted on our MB yesterday evening by one of our members (Janet) regarding her neighbour 'Simon' who is seriously ill with leukemia. In view of the urgent and very special nature of the problem, I have asked Dan if it would be ok on this occasion to respost the message on A4A, and Dan has now very kindly agreed. So thank you very much indeed for this Dan.  ;D

"Simon is 45yrs old & has 3 young children. In 2004 he was diagnosed with acute myloid leukemia. He was successfully treated but was told he would eventually need a bone marrow transplant. In Dec 2006, sadly the leukemia returned. Simon in now in Christies Hospital receiving another intensive course of chemotherapy & the need for a donor is urgent.
On Wed 7th Feb, staff from the Anthony Nolan trust are running a donor recruitment session at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU).
There are 2 sessions: 10am-12noon in room SR1, Aytoun Buildings, Aytoun Street, MMU Business school M13GH,
and
2.00pm-5.00pm in room 334, 3rd floor, Faculty of Humanities, Law & Social Sciences, Jeoffrey Manton Builing, Rosamund Street West, Off Oxford Road, M156LL.
If you are unable to attend the Anthony Nolan Trust can send you a kit to take to your GP so that a blood sample can be taken. Telephone No. 020 7284 1234 .
I do hope I haven't caused offence in posting this message but the situation is so dire.
Regards.
Janet"

I understand that there has been quite a response so far, which has prompted a manager from the Anthony Nolan Trust, a Mr. Robert Spigel, to post this follow up message...

"It's heartening to read the correspondence about joining the Anthony Nolan bone marrow register. I'm a manager at that charity, and I would like to clarify some of the elements of our work.

If you visit http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk you can read about how to join the register (if you are resident in the UK), and follow the links to details of the latest donor recruitment clinics.

The FAQs in the Media Centre http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/index.php?location=1.8
will answer queries you may have relating to why the age-range for joining the register is 18-40.

If you contact The Anthony Nolan Trust [020 7284 1234 or via the website) for information and a blood kit, they will reply in about a week, depending on the level of calls they are receiving.

Thank you everyone for your interest in our work."

Of course it should be borne in mind that joining the Bone Marrow register is quite a major undertaking, and not at all like giving blood. So whilst no-one should feel under any obligation, those that do decide to participate could help to save a life.

Thanks again Dan. ;)

[Spruance]

[MrsKP]

sorry i can't help, not least cos i'm a coward but now i read that i'm an OLD coward.

Everything crossed for Simon.  I always thought it was young persons disease.  Shows what thought does.

[froglets]

If you are a blood donor, you can get them to take a sample for tissue typing at the same time and go on the NHS  register - you need to say when they come to hook you up so they can set it up.  This works for those of you who have the more popular groups of blood, but unfortunately they wouldn't do it for mine as I'm too rare (12%) so I was told it's not an efficient use of the limited resources.

As I was peeved that if that's the policy, if I needed a bone marrow transplant, I'd be stuffed as they don't match my group & I have no siblings, I then contacted the Anthony Nolan Trust and got myself on their register.  The nurse at my GP's was happy to take the sample & I sent a donation towards the cost of the tissue typing.  All really simple & straightforward.

The Trust really really needs men and those of non european heritage to join up as men with their generally greater bulk can donate more marrow at a time, & some tissue types follow genetic make up so it's important to get a representation of the population.

I know it's a big undertaking and you have to be prepared to go through the donation prosess if called up, but I'd urge you all to just think about it please.

It might help a complete stranger & should the worst happen, a complete stranger may save the life of your loved one.

[Spruance]

Earlier this month, Dan very kindly agreed that I could post an appeal on behalf of one of our own MB members in respect of her (then 45 year old, now 46) neighbour who was urgently awaiting a bone marrow transplant.

In all, a total of 78 people attended the donor recruitment session at Manchester on 7th February, which, I understand is considerably more than usual. So thank you to all who responded.

I am now informed that a further donor session will be held tomorrow, 28th February, in Liverpool, at the following venue...

The Tower Group,
1st Floor, Martins Building,
4 Water Street,
Liverpool L2 3SX

From 10am to 5pm.

I don't want to keep 'bumping' this thread every month as this would be discourteous to Dan, so if anyone wishes to appraise themselves of future donor sessions, they should follow the link from this Anthony Nolan Trust sub-page, which in turn links to a regularly updated pdf document listing dates and venues around the country.

[Leonnie]

I went to donate blood in January, it was my new year's resolution to donate blood and put my name onto the bone marrow donor register. I can't though because I don't weigh enough, just miss the minimum weight. I was gutted because I'd really geared myself up for it and was something I really wanted to do.

[Jeannine]

I have no problem sending for the kit and offering to be a doner,if any of my bits may help someone else they are very welcome to them. I will get in touch at once,Good Luck and God Bless your search,sincerely Jeannine

[Jeannine]

Well I failed miserably,a )I am too old,b) I have had cancer c) I had reheumatic fever as a kid so need antibiotics before surgery,they were all no's. Sorry XX Jeannine

[saddad]

I'm an irregular Blood Donor, 32 units over 25 years, but left it too late to enquire abot Bone Marrow...
Rats..
:(

[LauraB]

I'll second what was said about registering whilst giving blood. It really is very simple, just a form to fill out and an extra phial of blood taken (whilst the needle is in your arm, anyway)

Well worth doing x

[manicscousers]

too old, too sick but on the organ donor register though..if anything's any good when I've finished with it  ;D

[carrot-cruncher]

Have been a blood donor since eighteen, have also been on the organ register for same time.   Joined the bone marrow register approx five years ago when first heard about it.

When donating blood I do it through something called apresis, where I donate every three weeks.   Apparently the product they get has a longer shelf life and one donation from me can help two people.

When I got injured last November I kept asking the hospital staff if I would be receiving a blood donation.   They replied "why, is it against your religion?".  I said "no, I'm a blood donor & would have to quit".  Doctor replied "Oh, don't worry then, you're plenty in credit!!!"

When folk ask why I donate blood my answer is "I've got it, they need it, why not"

CC