Bone Marrow

Donating is a great way to help people in need. Whether you’re donating time, money or items such as clothing or furniture, those donations have the potential to change people’s lives for the better.

Perhaps nowhere is the value of donating more palpable and personal than in situations when a healthy person donates part of their bodies to help someone facing a potentially life-threatening illness. Such situations unfold every day when people donate bone marrow.

According to the Mayo Clinic, roughly 5,000 people in the United States undergo a bone marrow transplant each year, and such transplants are vital for individuals diagnosed with blood cancers such as leukemia. Knowledge of bone marrow could compel more individuals to become marrow donors.

What is bone marrow?

The Cleveland Clinic notes that bone marrow is the soft, fatty tissue inside bone cavities. Components of blood, including red and white blood cells as well as platelets, form inside bone marrow.

Why is bone marrow important?

Bone marrow manufactures stem cells and other substances that ultimately produce blood cells. According to the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, each type of blood cell produced by bone marrow performs its own vital function. Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body while white blood cells help to fight infections. Platelets help blood clot so people stop bleeding when they are cut or injured.

Who can donate blood marrow?

UCLA Health notes that most healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 44 could be potential blood and marrow stem cell donors, though “Be The Match¨, which is operated by The National Marrow Donor Program , notes that donors on the bone marrow registry have their status changed to “inactive” upon their 61st birthday. People interested in becoming donors can join the program, be tested and add their names to the list if they’re ultimately approved as donors.

Why are some people excluded from becoming bone marrow donors?

Be the Match¨ is operated by the NMDP and manages the marrow registry. The organization notes that there are marrow donation guidelines available through their website that shed light on who cannot be a donor.

For example, Be The Match changes donors’ status to “inactive” at 61 to protect the donors. Individuals who have been diagnosed with HIV/ AIDS cannot be donors. Even those who have received a tattoo within the previous 12 months will be carefully evaluated for infections before they are approved as donors.

A more complete rundown of issues that could exclude some people from becoming marrow donors is available at bethematch.org.

Can someone live without bone marrow?

The Cleveland Clinic notes that the absence of bone marrow can be fatal.

Are all donors matches to anyone in need?

Just because someone is on the bone marrow registry does not mean they are a match with anyone who needs a bone marrow transplant. The more diverse the registry is, the more likely those in need will find a match. That underscores how important it is to increase the number of people on the bone marrow registry, which the Mayo Clinic notes already includes 12 million donors in the United States.

When that gland is not working properly, such as when cancer has taken hold, individuals may experience a range of side effects. Learning about the thyroid and thyroid cancer can help individuals recognize their own risk factors for the disease.

The thyroid gland

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the thyroid sends out hormones that control activities in the body, including breathing and pumping blood. The gland also regulates certain metabolic functions, such as controlling weight and putting on muscle. The thyroid also helps to keep the brain, heart, muscles, and other organs working as they should.

What is thyroid cancer?

Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the thyroid. At first, thyroid cancer may not produce any symptoms, but as it grows, the cancer can cause swelling in the neck and may make it difficult to talk and swallow, says the Mayo Clinic. Thyroid cancer is not the most common cancer, but it is helpful to learn more about the disease. The American Cancer Society reports that, as of 2022, there are about 43,800 new cases of thyroid cancer (11,860 in men and 31,940 in women). Women are three times more likely to develop thyroid cancer than men, and until recently, it was the most rapidly increasing cancer in the U.S.

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Types of thyroid cancer

The American Thyroid Association notes that there are four main types of thyroid cancer:

1. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common, accounting for 70 to 80 percent of all thyroid cancers. It can occur at any age. It grows slowly, but can spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.

2. Follicular thyroid cancer accounts for 10 to 15 percent of cases in the U.S., and may spread through the blood to distant organs.

3. Medullary thyroid cancer is uncommon but can run in families. It is associated with other endocrine tumors.

4. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is the most aggressive and advanced form of the disease and the least likely to respond to treatment. It is very rare.

Thyroid cancer treatment

Doctors diagnose thyroid cancer by using ultrasound imaging and fine needle aspiration biopsy. Sometimes thyroid nodules are removed surgically and studied. According to the ATA, the first step in treating thyroid cancer is surgery. In some cases, only one lobe of the thyroid may be removed and in others the entire thyroid is removed. The extent of surgery depends on tumor size and whether or not the cancer has spread. Individuals will have to take thyroid hormone replacement medication if their thyroids are removed. Radioactive iodine therapy also may be used if the thyroid cancer spread to lymph nodes.

Thyroid cancer tends to be highly treatable and is being detected earlier than ever. That is good news for those affected by the disease.