The most serious risk associated with donating bone marrow involves the use of anesthesia during the procedure. Within a few weeks, the donor s body will have replaced the donated marrow. The area where the bone marrow was taken out may feel sore for a few days, and the donor may feel tired. The time required for a donor to recover varies. Some people are back to their usual routine within 2 or 3 days, while others may take up to 3 to 4 weeks to recover their strength.
Apheresis is usually painless and causes minimal discomfort.
During apheresis, the person may feel lightheadedness, chills, numbness around the lips, and cramping in the hands. Unlike bone marrow donation, PBSC donation does not require anesthesia. These side effects generally stop within 2 to 3 days of the last dose of the medication. This part of the transplant is called the rescue process. The bone marrow used for autologous transplantation must be relatively free of cancer cells.