Fear

The emotional – but very real fear – of needles, surgery, and medical procedures can be a huge barrier to donation.

Misunderstanding

There are many myths about the bone marrow donation process. For example, many people assume that the only way to donate bone marrow is via inpatient surgery. We like to address this misconception through the 80/20 rule because, in fact, 80 percent of the time donation is done through peripheralbloodstemcells (PBSC) donation and only 10 to 20 percent of the time is inpatient surgery necessary.

Cost

You will likely be asked to donate to $100 in the US (this differs according to country) in order to cover the cost of tissue typing. While this is not necessary, it is often considered a barrier in the donation process.

Time

The total amount of time required by the bone marrow donation experience varies depending on certain factors, but generally donating requires a very real commitment of time.

Feeling Rushed

Cheek swab drives, like other kinds of spontaneous donor requests (such as street fundraisers) often don’t give people the time to weigh their decision and think it through. People react negatively purely to this sensation of being rushed.

Cultural Beliefs

Different cultures have different perceptions – emotionally, spiritually, and physically – around donation, whether it be blood, organs, or bone marrow, for instance.