Apologies for the lack of posts - I'm enjoying Facebook...


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I'm in Bangor at the moment - but I thought I'd take a little time to post an update on the bone marrow front.

I was due to undertake a medical next week to ensure I was physically capable to undertake the procedure. I'd also get my veins examined to ensure they'd cope with the pressure exerted upon them when I donated via the peripheral stem cell procedure. This was supposed to take place on the 4th July, but I received a phone call last week to ask whether it was OK to postpone this.

The nurse informed me that the patient whom I'd matched had relapsed. Apparently, the patient has to be in a state of remission before he/she undergoes a stressful procedure that will ensure the patient remains in isolation/quarantine for around a month.

I've been told it may take up to 3 months before the patient is well enough to progress. Fingers crossed I'll be able to carry on with the donation in due course.

One more thing - I think we need to get away from calling this bone marrow donation (I admit I'm just as guilty of this).  To ensure more people are on the register people need to fully understand the patient requires stem cells and that there's two methods to extract these - bone marrow extraction is just one of two methods. 

Peripheral stem cell donation post-dates bone marrow donation by around 20/30 years, but with around 20 years clinical experience I'm more than a little surprised at the lack of general understanding there still is regarding this other option.  I would have remained oblivious to its existence if it wasn't for me putting myself in this position.  I think this needs to be addressed, possibly through further education (?) if we're going to attract more people onto the bone marrow registry where they can anonymously help others in dire need.

technorati tags: welsh blood service, bone marrow, donation, blood

Today I took the first steps to donate the stem cells required to give a patient a fighting chance against some sort of blood cancer (i.e Leukaemia).

This afternoon a nurse from the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry came to the flat to see me and Liz. She used the opportunity to tell me the differences between the Bone Marrow aspiration (under general anaesthetic having the marrow extracted from from my pelvis) and Peripheral Stem Cell donation (machine takes the blood and harvests the stem cells).

They're two quite different procedures and both have their own unique risks, but both are fascinating for someone like me with a lay interest in medicine and science. Even though I didn't mind going for an operation I chose the stem cell extraction method as the patient's doctors have asked for cells via that method in the first instance.

In the next fortnight I'll undergo a comprehensive independent medical, I'll have my peripheral veins examined to ensure their wide enough for the method and four days before the cells are "harvested" (possibly early July) I'll receive a number of injections of a drug (G-CSF) that will stimulate production of blood cells (side effects include flu-like symptoms - fortunately I don't swell up, expending like some kind of human water balloon!).

I'll spend the day (around 5-6 hours) sat connected to an aphresis machine where the excess stem cells are collected from my blood. It's a relatively new procedure (the first took place in 1991) but it's becoming more common for donation to take place this way rather than extracted bone marrow.



Nature has an interesting article regarding the experience of volunteers donation stem cells in this way.

I'm really grateful for the discussion today - it's helped to clear up a few things and the support from the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry is phenomenal and really reassuring. I look forward to their continued support over the coming weeks, months (and even years - they will continue to contact donors annually for up to 10 years).

I've held back from asking about the patient until after I get the all clear following the medical. I won't find out too much information, strict anonymity will be enforced - but I could discover the age, sex and location of the individual (and following the donation I can ask for updates). However at the moment I want to make sure I'm physically able to donate before I take this step.

Here's another experience recorded on the BBC Wales website.

On the subject of Bone Marrow, a lighter note - here's a link to some medieval recipes.

technorati tags: welsh blood service, bone marrow, donation, blood

The BBC news editors blogged earlier today about their slip up yesterday.

The reaction on b3ta's messageboard is understandably upbeat! (an image featuring the logo is there)

I take my hat off to the imaginative response generated by the BBC's olympic logo challenge.

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Evening chaps!



Further to this, this and this post I had a phone call from the Welsh Blood Service whilst I was in work this afternoon. According to the nice lady at the other end of the phone I've been chosen as the best match/doner to give bone marrow.
During our brief conversation she told me I'm expected to give the bone marrow sometime during early-mid July as long as I'm still happy to do so - of course I am, I wouldn't be on the register if I wasn't.

But - thinking about it - I can see why people drop out - after reading the literature and pondering upon the issue for a while I'd would be lying if I said I wasn't a little scared - perhaps that's healthy.

Depending upon the procedure I choose I would need a general anaesthetic, and as far as I'm aware not many people do that voluntarily without an ailment (someone feel free to correct me!)

I've made an appointment to discuss the "ins and outs" so to speak, with the nurse for Thursday afternoon. I understand I'll learn more details behind the procedures, what I need to do and I should have a better idea of when I'll be required to donate. Liz has said she'll come home for extra support - It'll be very much appreciated! Mam and Dad have said their proud.

To be honest the sooner this is done the better, part of me can't help but think where the bone marrow is scheduled to go. I'll never get to know the person, strict anonymity is enforced (though I may get to discover their condition afterwards - though there's no guarantee)- but I want to make a little difference.

Here's to my sooper strong Pycroft marrow - full of meaty goodness!



technorati tags: welsh blood service, bone marrow, donation, blood

Can't say I'm bowled over by the new logo (sorry - brand) for the London Olympics.  I needed the BBC to point out that the shapes symbolise "2012".



The Grauniad article also links to the London Olympics 2012 website and the obligatory promotional video. Can't say I'm impressed - I think it harks back to the 80's rather than looking forward 5 years into the future.  I hope there's more to come.

However, I may be wrong - perhaps primary colours and curves have had their day and will not come back into fashion. 

I fear the current 80's revival may be more permanent than first thought...

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A trailer for the Star Wars: Clone Wars (the CGI version - Clone Wars fans) can be found here.



The original animated clone wars cartoon is still on my Amazon wishlist if anyone wants to get it for me. One of the best things to hit Star Wars - thank Jeebus Lucus handed over those reins to Genndy Tartakovsky.




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Short of a miracle it appears that Wales is going to be governed (in the short term at least) by a "Rainbow" Coalition - minus the red of course. A daft name - but that's politics for you!

Of course - if you had seen the signs decades ago you would have known this already! See...



front row - left to right - Iuean Wyn Jones (first minister in all but name), Nick Bourne (deputy blue first minister - elect)
back row - Mike German (possible first minister twice removed).   Picture taken earlier today in the Senedd.

I admit the above isn't the greatest piece of satire.

However, there is a serious point - how many people (apart from politics wonks like yours truly) could recognise the faces/names/policies of the three men negotiating in Cardiff Bay at the moment? It's a sad inditement that the Rainbow characters are probably more recognisable.

UPDATE

Looks like the dream is over!  I've got a feeling that the Lib Dems are not too popular in the Senedd this morning.  I guess it was better to get this out of the way now rather than after a couple of weeks in Government!


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It's been just over a month since I gave my blood sample for the bone marrow match. Still no word, but I guess there's still three more weeks to go, I'm assuming at this rate that I won't be needed - watch this space!

technorati tags: welsh blood service, bone marrow

There's a new Transformers Trailer out there in the interweb ether. (Swoon...) Looks stunning - not sure whether I care about the plot...I'm certain I heard the transforming sound too (perhaps a little modified)

Meet Starscream



not as colourful as the cartoon version



 - but what do you expect, he's supposed to transform into an F22 Raptor, not an F15 Eagle!

(hat tip: SFX)


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