Bone marrow donation is a life-saving procedure where a healthy donor provides bone marrow to a recipient who is suffering from conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, or other blood disorders. The donated bone marrow can produce healthy blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which are essential for maintaining the body's immune system and overall health.
The process typically involves either:
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Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (PBSC) Donation: Donors receive medication for a few days to increase the number of stem cells in their bloodstream, which are then collected through apheresis.
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Bone Marrow Harvest: Under anesthesia, a needle is used to extract bone marrow directly from the donor's hip bone.
The donated stem cells can then engraft in the recipient's bone marrow, helping to restore their ability to produce healthy blood cells.
In addition to producing healthy blood cells, bone marrow donation has broader implications, such as increasing the chances of survival for patients with blood cancers and other related disorders, and contributing to advancements in medical research and treatment developments.
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