5 Common Myths about Bone Marrow Transplant

Bone marrow is the soft tissue inside certain bones where stem cells- immature cells that can become any type of blood cell, are produced.  Unfortunately, common myths about bone marrow donation too often misguide people. Get a glimpse of it at Fortis Hospitals as it is known to be one of the top bone marrow transplant surgery hospitals in India. Here are five such facts behind six common misconceptions about bone marrow donation:

·         Myth 1: Bone marrow donation is painful

Usually, there are two ways you can donate stem cells- peripheral blood stem cell donation or via bone marrow donation. While there is some pain associated with both the methods, the amount of discomfort entirely depends on method to method and person to person.

·         Myth 2: Bone marrow donation may have long-term consequences

Over the long term, donating stem cells by either method is relatively harmless to the donor. Bone marrow levels typically return to normal within a few weeks of the donation, and donors can resume their daily activities. The use of anesthesia during bone marrow donation may cause the donor to feel tired or weak.

·         Myth 3: Bone marrow is taken from the spine

Bone marrow donations have nothing to do with the spine. Peripheral blood stem cell donation involves collecting blood stem cells from the bloodstream. From bone marrow transplant, marrow is extracted from the back of the donor’s pelvic bone, not the spine.

·         Myth 4: Bone marrow transplant is time-consuming

In most cases, donors are asked to donate within one to three months. For peripheral stem cell donations, the donor must take injections for the five days before the procedure begins, and then the donation takes roughly four to six hours over the course of one day. The bone marrow extraction process takes one to two hours, and donors may stay overnight at the hospital before getting back to doing regular activities.

·         Myth 5: Family members can donate a bone marrow

Only 30% of patients are fortunate enough to find a match within their own family. The vast majority of patients in need of a transplant must rely on donors outside their families. Being a bone marrow donor is a serious commitment, but imagine the happiness of saving someone’s life.

Equipped with a set of learned surgeons and world-class facilities, Fortis Hospitals has been one of the best bone marrow transplant surgeryhospitals in Bangalore.