Bone marrow is a tissue located at the heart of the bones, whose role is to make blood cells: Red cells, white blood cells and platelets. Some diseases attack it directly (this is particularly the case of leukemia or certain lymphomas), which can cause infections, anemia or bleeding. In France, it is estimated that each year, 2000 patients would need a bone marrow transplant.
The problem is, compatibility rates are extremely low, so every promise of bone marrow donation is precious. In the world, there are 73 interconnected registers which list a total of 25 million potential donors: France, for its part, lists 240,000. But, of course, this is not enough: this is why the Biomedicine Agency organizes a world day for bone marrow donation, this Saturday, September 19.
To be able to donate, you must meet 3 conditions: be in perfect health, be between 18 and 50 years old, and agree to answer a medical questionnaire as well as submit to 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. Go gentlemen, it’s to save lives!
How to do ?
To register, it’s simple: just download a form (available by clicking on this link), print it out, fill it out, and return it to the ADOT (Associations for the Donation of Human Organs and Tissues) center of your department (you will find the address by clicking on the following link). A doctor will then give you an appointment for a preliminary interview.
Please note: this is not a trivial act either. Unlike blood donation (which only takes a few tens of minutes), bone marrow donation is accompanied by hospitalization of at least two days (with operation under general anesthesia), which results in sick leave. But it’s for a good cause.
Bone marrow donation: how is it going? We will explain everything to you.