Gray on 2/7/2020 at 15:56
As you probably know, Covid-19 has messed up pretty much everything of everything. Including charities. They're struggling to get the funding now.
One that I've signed up for about a year ago is DKMS, to help cure blood cancer. This is one of the trickier ones, they need a DNA sample to see if you're compatible. If you're a match, it may only require some of your blood, or if it's a bad case, some of your bone marrow. Less pleasant. Why did I sign up for this very unpleasant thing? Because some famous guy I don't even like told me to, and in my own arrogance I thought "I'm better than this clown!". Your reasons may differ. But also, cancer is what killed my wife. Just not this type, but meh, if I can help...
Quote:
"Even though the pandemic restrictions are beginning to ease and we’re resuming some aspects of normal life, people continue to be diagnosed with blood cancer. And people continue to die from blood cancer unless they find a matching stem cell donor, so I’m asking for your help to raise more awareness about this.
When I emailed you at the start of the lockdown in March, we saw an incredible surge of people spreading the word about DKMS, and thousands signed up to the UK Blood Stem Cell Register as a result. For that, I cannot express my gratitude enough. You gave hope at a time when it was so needed.
Since then, however, the number of people joining the register has fluctuated, and we’re bracing ourselves for another decline in the number of people signing up to be potential lifesavers as lockdown ends. Yet the need for blood stem cell donors did not slow down for COVID-19, and it certainly does not stop now. In fact, we’re expecting an increase in the number of patients needing our support in the coming months, as our clinicians tell us that transplants that had to be deferred or postponed due to the pandemic, can now go ahead.
We’re always working to raise awareness of blood cancer and blood disorders, and the importance of registering as a blood stem cell donor. But, undoubtedly, our biggest asset in doing this is you. Simply by forwarding this email, or sharing information on social media, or telling your relatives or friends, you can help give someone a second chance of life.
Thank you,
Jonathan Pearce
CEO, DKMS UK"
I told Jon I'd do my best, and this is me, doing my best. Now donate. Give DNA and cash.
(
https://www.dkms.org.uk/en)
Or whatever anti-cancer-thingy you prefer.
Tocky on 3/7/2020 at 00:20
Donated cash. They won't take my blood. I've tried before. I lived in the UK at the wrong time and for too long. Possible Mad Cow and no way to test. I really wish I could. I have a high school buddy whose wife has this. They have the most beautiful little girl and I really would like to help her mom be there for her wedding one day.
SubJeff on 7/7/2020 at 12:21
Really?
I'm the UK and I'm a registered and card carrying DKMS donor. No problems with mad cow for me or other people in the UK I know that are registered.
I'm honestly not bothered about the discomfort that any if the sampling may cause. You're potentially saving or extending a life, that's what matters.
The DNA sampling is only a cheek swab.
Tocky on 7/7/2020 at 12:41
Yeah really. I used to donate blood all the time, my family still does, but when they asked the question did I live in the UK for over a year back in that time period (80-81) the answer was yes. Since then they won't let me donate. Their answer is that they have no test for it. Every so often I try again. The last time was about a month ago. They are really strict about it. I have no choice in the matter. I'm allowed to be an organ donor so I don't understand it. Well, I have the card, I don't know if they would use them once THEY found out either. It seems an over abundance of caution to me but I'm not a medical professional or lawyer. Likely they are just covering their asses in case of a law suit but I don't know.
Gray on 12/7/2020 at 02:06
I'd like to clarify, when you sign up, they send you a DNA swab kit, CSI style. You swab your cheeks and send it in. They then process it, to see if you're a match for someone who needs something. If you're a match, perhaps they might request some of your blood. Fine. I'm sure we can all do that, nae bother. In some other, more serious cases, they might require a bone marrow donation, which involves sticking a VERY large needle into your femur in what is probably a very unpleasant procedure, but the upside is that you might be saving that one other person's life. It's not like sending £3 for some random charity to help people in general, this is you, actually physically giving up a part of your body, to help save the life of one specific strange person you've never met that matches your DNA, but will forever owe their life to your sacrifice. If I was a christian, I'd say it's the right thing to do and invoke some clever Jesusy quote, but I'm not, so I'm saying... it's still the right thing to do, if you possibly can. If nothing else, you can always claim you saved someone else's life, imagine what a babe magnet you'd be!
(Yes, yes, sorry about the babe magnet line, but I ran out of rational arguments, so I tried to appeal to lower instincts. Sorry.)
But feel free to turn this thread into something about other cancer charities. They all need it.
SubJeff on 12/7/2020 at 21:47
Bone marrow donation is done under anaesthesia, so will be less unpleasant than you might imagine.
SubJeff on 14/7/2020 at 07:25
Quote Posted by Tocky
Yeah really. I used to donate blood all the time, my family still does, but when they asked the question did I live in the UK for over a year back in that time period (80-81) the answer was yes. Since then they won't let me donate. Their answer is that they have no test for it.
So this is in the USA then?
Tocky on 14/7/2020 at 12:23
Yes. A question on the form that appeared around fifteen or twenty years ago. I have no idea why. You would think if it were an actual problem they would have asked earlier. That's what makes me think it's some legal thing. Maybe they were sued. I don't know.
ffox on 15/7/2020 at 19:18
I suspect people think bone marrow donation is painful because they have heard disquieting reports from people like myself who have had a (
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/tests/bone-marrow-test) bone marrow biopsy. The two should not be confused.
I had a couple of biopsies to confirm a (
https://www.healthline.com/health/macroglobulinemia-of-waldenstrom) diagnosis. I was given a local anaesthetic which works fine on the flesh but has little effect on the bone and contents. My first biopsy was uncomfortable but quite bearable. However the trephine needle hit a nerve during the second one and that really hurt!
For a bone marrow donation (which takes longer) the donor is given either a general anaesthetic or a regional one (such as an epidural) which renders the procedure completely painless. So if you are thinking of donating, don't worry - it won't hurt!
SubJeff on 15/7/2020 at 21:18
They'd probably give you a spinal rather than an epidural, but yes it would be less dreadful than the potential pain of.biopsy.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis ffox. I hope you're keeping well.