Question:

I was wondering if anyone knew if a person who is in remission from brain cancer could be a bone marrow donor????  Please email.  Thanks Jennifer

Yes; obviously not the first choice, but former cancer patients can ultimately donate bone marrow, blood, etc.  A lot depends on the specific circumstances of the donor’s history, etc.  For example, I was able to store my own bone marrow for a possible autologous transplant even though I had active metastatic cancer.  They ran tests on the bone marrow and detemined that it was free of cancer, thereby being useful in the event I ultimately need the transplant procedure.         -Danny          Chainring BBS: 202-554-3175

Response:

I was wondering if anyone knew if a person who is in remission from brain cancer could be a bone marrow donor???? Yes; obviously not the first choice, but former cancer patients can ultimately donate bone marrow, blood, etc.  A lot depends on the specific circumstances of the donor’s history, etc.  For example, I was able to store my own bone marrow for a possible autologous transplant even though I had active metastatic cancer.  They ran tests on the bone marrow and detemined that it was free of cancer, thereby being useful in the event I ultimately need the transplant procedure.

I believe the original question was about being a bnoe marrow donor for someone else.  According to the National Marrow Donor program guidelines (see below) people with cancer (except in few cases) can not be donors.  This has little relevance to harvesting or storing marrow for an autologous transplant.  I guess that potential donors for a relative (i.e. a sibling) would be evaluated on a case by case basis. The following comes from ‘The Marrow Messenger’ a newsletter put out by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP).  This is from the issue dated June, 1994. As of April 30, 1994 they have over 1,000,000 registered donors.  They have "facilitated" 2,478 unrelated marrow transplants (about 70 transplants a month).  About 7.6 percent of NMDP transplants have been for people of color. The breakdown of NMDP volunteers and number of transplants by ethnic groups is:                              Number of Volunteers  # Patients transplanted                              (in thousands)        through NDMP       African American:        70.9                 52       Hispanic:                73.2                 93       Native American:         14.1                 11       Asian/Pacific Islander:  52.4                 19       Other (unspecified              or bi-racial):     6.9                 50       Caucasian:              817.1               2079 Health guidelines for NMDP donors: Donors must be between 18 and 55 and in good health. AIDS:  If you have or are at risk for HIV (AIDS), you cannot donate marrow. ASTHMA: Chronic asthma is not acceptable.  Exercise-induced asthma is acceptable.  If a donor has not had an episode in five years and is not on medication, he or she is acceptable. BLOOD PRESSURE: Elevated blood pressure (hypertension controlled) is acceptable.  If controlled by medication, high blood pressure is acceptable if there is no association with a heart condition. CANCER:  Cured local skin cancer (simple basal cell or squamous cell) is acceptable.  Cured cervical cancer in situ is acceptable. Any other forms of cancer are unacceptable. DIABETES: Medication-dependent diabetes is not acceptable.  Diabetes controlled by diet is acceptable EPILEPSY:  More than one seizure in the past year is not acceptable. Epilepsy controlled with medication when there has been no more than one seizure in the past year is acceptable. HEART DISEASE: History of heart attack, bypass surgery or other coronary disease is not acceptable.  Mitral valve prolapse that does not require medication or restrictions is acceptable, Irregular heartbeat not requiring medication is acceptable. HEPATISIS: History of Hepatisis A is acceptable.  Antibody to Hepatisis B core antigen is acceptable.  Hepatisis B surface antibody is not acceptable.  Hepatisis C antibody is not acceptable.  Hepatisis vaccine is acceptable. Histoplasmosis:  Acceptable if completely recovered for at least six months. Hospitalization:  If hospitalized within the last six months, consult your donor center coordinator. JAUNDICE:  Jaundice resulting from mononucleosis or intestinal virus is acceptable, as is history of newborn jaundice.  Unspecified jaundice within the last 12 months is not acceptable. Lyme Disease:  Asymptomatic lyme disease is acceptable if the donor has been treated successfully with antibiotics.  Chronic lyme disease is not acceptable. MALERIA: Maleria more than three years ago is acceptable.  If the volunteer finished a full course of anti-malerial drugs more than six months ago, he or she is acceptable. OBESITY: Greater than 25 percent more than your ideal weight is unacceptable. Organ or tissue transplant recipient:  Organ or tissue transplant recipients will be deferred. SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES:  Genital herpes will be evaluated at time of physical exam, but is usually acceptable.  Gonorrhea is acceptable if it has been treated prior to the past 12 months. Syphillis is acceptable if it was treated prior to the past 12 months. Tuberculosis:  Pulmonary active tuberculosis within the last two years is not acceptable. Vaccinations:  Vaccinations are acceptable, excluding HBIG and investigational. Art — Austin, Texas

Response:

I was wondering if anyone knew if a person who is in remission from brain cancer could be a bone marrow donor????  Please email.  Thanks Jennifer —                                     ——-    Virginia Beach, Virginia                                          —–      (804) 471 6776

Response:

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