The world day of mobilization for bone marrow donation, it’s today ! On the occasion of this event (which is being held for the second time), the Biomedicine Agency wished to wish a “Happy New Birthday” to all those who benefited from a bone marrow transplant. On social networks, a hashtag was even launched: #JoyeuxNouvelAnniv or #HappyNewBirthday.
“Often the transplant is synonymous with a second birth, a new life, for patients, who then celebrate the date of their transplant as that of their birthday” specifies the Biomedicine Agency. In addition, 24 stations in France (Paris, Nice, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Dijon, Toulouse, Grenoble, Nantes, Strasbourg, Nancy, Lille and Lyon) will relay a special poster campaign.
In 2015, 1,048 bone marrow transplants were performed in France, 20,317 worldwide. At present, 248,000 people are registered in the French register: in 2016, the Biomedicine Agency hopes to recruit 18,000 additional donors.
What is bone marrow? It is a substance located in the heart of the bones, whose role is to make blood cells: Red cells, white blood cells and platelets. In people with leukemia or lymphoma, for example, the bone marrow no longer works.
Result, the blood cells are insufficient: this can cause infections (lack of white blood cells), anemia (lack of red blood cells) or bleeding (lack of platelets). In France, it is estimated that each year, 2000 patients would need a bone marrow transplant.
How to become a bone marrow donor? First, you have to meet 3 conditions: be in perfect health, be between 18 and 50 years old, and agree to answer a medical questionnaire as well as undergo a blood test. The Biomedicine Agency is looking in particular for men under the age of 50, to rebalance the French register, which is made up of 65% women.
Then, you just have to download a form (available on the website of the Federation of Associations for the Donation of Human Organs and Tissues – France ADOT), print it, fill it out, and send it back by mail to the center. ADOT of your department. A doctor will then give you an appointment for a preliminary interview.
To read: Bone marrow donation, how does it work?
Source: Biomedicine Agency.
