Affinity Health, a leading provider of high-quality health cover, breaks down common myths about bone marrow donation this Bone Marrow Stem Cell Donation and Leukaemia Awareness Month (15 August to 15 October)—and urges more people to become donors and save lives.
“There’s a great deal of fear and misunderstanding around bone marrow donation,” says Murray Hewlett, CEO of Affinity Health.
“We want to help educate the public and show that this life-saving procedure is far simpler and less painful than most people think.”
South Africa has just over 73,000 registered bone marrow donors, but that’s not nearly enough. With only 10% of the registry made up of Black donors, patients from underrepresented communities face a much lower chance of finding a match, i.e., just 19% compared to 75% for white patients. By joining the South African Bone Marrow Registry, you could be the life-saving match someone is desperately waiting for.
The more people who register as donors, the greater the chance of finding a match. Unfortunately, however, widespread myths continue to hold people back. Here’s the truth behind the most common misconceptions:
Myth 1: Bone marrow donation is extremely painful
Fact: Most modern donations are done through a simple, outpatient process called PBSC (Peripheral Blood Stem Cell donation), which is similar to donating blood or platelets. In this procedure, blood is drawn from one arm, stem cells are filtered out, and the remaining blood is returned to your body through the other arm. It’s relatively painful, but not extremely painful, as is any needle prick when drawing blood or putting up an intravenous line to replace the remaining blood, aside from minor side effects such as fatigue or body aches, usually gone within a day or two.
Myth 2: Surgery and hospital stays are required
Fact: Only a small percentage of donors (about 10%) undergo a surgical procedure to extract marrow from the hip bone. This is done under general anaesthetic, and donors are usually discharged the same day or the next. The process is safe, and the body naturally replenishes the donated marrow within a few weeks.
Myth 3: Registering is complicated and invasive
Fact: Registering to become a donor is fast and completely non-invasive. All it takes is filling in a form and providing a cheek swab sample. You can register with organisations such as the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR), which then adds your details to the global registry. You’ll only be contacted if you’re a match for someone in need.
Myth 4: You can only donate to a family member
Fact: Around 70% of patients in need of a transplant don’t find a suitable match within their own family. That’s why national and global registries are vital, as the best matches are often strangers. Ethnicity also plays a role in genetic compatibility, which is why diverse South Africans need to join the registry.
Myth 5: Donating will weaken your immune system
Fact: Your body naturally replenishes donated stem cells or bone marrow within weeks. While donors might feel a little tired after the procedure, long-term health isn’t affected. Your immune system remains strong and functional throughout the recovery.
Myth 6: Older people can’t register
Fact: Most registries allow healthy individuals between the ages of 18 and 45 to sign up, as younger donors typically yield better transplant outcomes. However, even if you’re past this age, you can still support the cause by raising awareness or making a financial contribution to organisations that manage donor testing and transplants.
Why It Matters
Thousands of people, especially children, are waiting for a donor. For those diagnosed with aggressive forms of leukaemia or bone marrow failure, a transplant is often the only lifeline. But without enough registered donors, many die waiting.
Your decision to register could one day match you with someone desperately hoping for a second chance at life. The process is more straightforward than most people realise, and the reward is immeasurable.
Conclusion
This Bone Marrow Stem Cell Donation and Leukaemia Awareness Month, Affinity Health encourages every South African to consider the life-changing impact of becoming a bone marrow donor. It’s more than a medical procedure; it’s an act of hope that could give someone a second chance at life. By breaking down the myths and raising awareness, we can help more patients, especially those in underrepresented communities, find the match they urgently need.
Whether you register as a donor, spread the word, or support someone in treatment, your action matters. Together, we can grow the donor pool, close the gap, and save lives. Affinity Health supports members with access to GP and specialist consultations, diagnostic testing, chronic medication, and serious illness hospitalisation on selected plans—helping you or your loved ones navigate treatment with care and dignity.