Donate bone marrow

A stem cell (or bone marrow) transplant can be a lifesaving procedure. Bone marrow transplants are used as a treatment for people with various blood cancers, such as leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Bone marrow donation is a little less straightforward than blood donation. If you are asked to donate, you will be given anaesthesia while a needle is used to draw liquid bone marrow from your pelvic bone. Following the donation, you may have some pain in your back and a few other symptoms like nausea, fatigue, or headaches. Male donors are needed as a priority, with around 80% of recipients being men. Women from black, Asian, or mixed ethnic backgrounds are also required. All donors in the UK must be between 17-40 years old.