What's it like to donate bone marrow?

Find out the truth behind common false beliefs about bone marrow donation. Be The Match provides support and information every step of the way. read more

Donation: During the marrow donation, you will be lying on your stomach. While the donation varies slightly from hospital to hospital, generally, the doctors use special, hollow needles to withdraw liquid marrow (where blood-forming cells are made) from both sides of the back of the pelvic bone. read more

Bone marrow donation is one of two methods of collecting blood forming cells for bone marrow transplants. Bone marrow donation is a surgical procedure that takes place in a hospital operating room. read more

Both procedures, bone marrow donation and PBSC, do essentially the same thing: harvest stem cells. The only difference is the degree of complication. So if you're interested in being a donor, but scared of the pain or complication of a traditional bone marrow transplant, things have changed. read more