Stem Cell Donation: More Than Meets the Eye!
Editors of Medical News Today, James McIntosh, Shares His 12-Year Journey as a Registered Donor Donating Stem Cells for a Clinical Study
What’s the experience like when you donate stem cells?
Design by Medical News Today; photograph courtesy James McIntosh.
On paper, stem cell donation can sound a bit intimidating. While donating blood may be easy to visualize, stem cells feel more abstract. The name conjures images of microscopes, laboratories, and horribly invasive procedures. But fear not! I’m here to tell you that stem cell donation is not as scary as it may seem. In fact, it can be a truly rewarding experience. So sit back, relax, and let’s explore the world of stem cell donation together!
Joining the Register: A Step Towards Saving Lives
I can’t remember exactly when it was that I signed up on the stem cell register, but 12 years ago feels about right. At the time, I was working at a local hospital booking day surgery appointments for people. One day, some people from the charity Anthony Nolan came in to try and sign National Health Service employees and medical students up. It seemed like the thing to do at the time, and so my name was added to the register, joining over 800,000 others.
But why are stem cells so important? To call them “useful” would be doing them a disservice. Stem cells are cells that do not yet have a specific role within the body. When they divide, they have the potential to develop into cells with a specific function. This process is known as differentiation. Each of the many different specialized cells of the adult human body were stem cells, to begin with. Doctors and scientists can use stem cells to help treat certain conditions. For example, skin stem cells can aid with tissue regeneration to treat skin damage, and blood stem cells can form a crucial part of treatment for blood diseases such as leukemia. Not only that, but researchers can also use stem cells in studies to either find out the causes of certain diseases or to develop new drug treatments for conditions.
Screening and Preparation: Ensuring Safety and Readiness
A few months ago, I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in donating some cells to be used in a study. With my consent given over the phone, it was time for me to move into uncharted territory. But before the donation could take place, I had to go through a screening process. Clinical staff provided more detailed information about what was coming so that I could provide written consent. Questions were asked to assess my likelihood of carrying any bloodborne diseases. Blood and urine samples were taken, my body mass index (BMI) was measured, and a COVID-19 test was carried out. 🩺
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A common experience for people who work with health information articles is to feel as though you are developing whatever condition you have most recently written about. This can be useful from time to time. I had an irregular-looking mole removed after working on a melanoma article, for instance. However, it can also leave you fearing the worst when all you have done is perhaps eaten too much beetroot. 😅 Thankfully, my fears of gross malnourishment due to a disorganized vegan diet proved to be completely unfounded.
After passing the screening process, it was time to prepare my body for the donation process. This involved a series of injections of a protein called granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) to boost the levels of stem cells in my bloodstream. Now, I’ve never injected anything before, but I was willing to give it a try. The injections were surprisingly manageable, and the only adverse effects were some slight body aches and a general feeling of being run down. 💉
Collecting Stem Cells: A Sci-Fi Experience with a Pokemon Twist
The day finally arrived for the “harvesting” of my stem cells. The term “harvesting” made it sound as though the procedure was going to be a brutal process straight out of a dystopian science fiction story. But fear not, fellow donors! The reality was far from it. All the heavy lifting was done by a cell-separating machine. The nurse inserted a needle into a vein in my left arm, from which my blood was drawn into the machine. The machine then separated the blood into its separate components: red blood cells, white blood cells, plasma, and platelets.
Once the blood was separated, the parts containing my precious stem cells were taken away, leaving the rest of the blood to return to me. Another needle was inserted into a vein in my right arm, and the blood was able to rejoin my bloodstream. Sounds simple, right? And what did I do during the procedure? Well, I played Pokémon on my phone, turned the pages of my book, and struggled with eating soup and rice pudding. 🧡
From time to time, I would look over at the machine. I could see the tubes carrying blood into this strange device with its turning wheels and rhythmic humming. It really was like something out of a science fiction story, only tempered with the mundanity of waiting in a queue at the post office to send a parcel. Overall, there was minimal discomfort throughout the procedure, and any side effects, like tingling sensations around my mouth, were quickly managed by the wonderful medical staff. 🩹
Heading Home: The Aftermath and Recovery
At the end of it all, I felt tired and a little short of energy, but otherwise experienced no ill effects. It is typical for people to experience bone aches and tiredness for a few days after the procedure, so I took it easy and skipped playing soccer for a week. The doctor who had seen me for my health check had explained that my spleen would have shrunk during the procedure, and avoiding contact sports would allow it time to return to its usual size without harm. This may have been the first time in my life I have actively considered my spleen’s well-being. 😄
A Straightforward Process, Highly Recommended!
Whenever I told someone I was going to be donating stem cells, quite a few people seemed impressed. Their reactions suggested that the whole process would be a great ordeal with significant levels of discomfort. Thankfully, donating stem cells was an effortless process, and my experience is one that has been shared by many others.
Stem cells are a vital part of treatment for several serious conditions while also showing a lot of potential in the development of new therapies for currently untreatable diseases. As a result, it is important for there to be people willing to donate their stem cells. Many will be able to save lives by joining a donation register.
My hope is that this article makes stem cell donation seem less scary and more accessible. I would certainly recommend that folks consider it if they are able to. And if you are lucky enough to be asked to donate, get some practice eating with one arm beforehand. 😉 If you live in the United Kingdom and are aged 16–30, you can join the Anthony Nolan register through their website.
