My son has chronic Mylogenous leukemia, so I'm already on the list. I'd also encourage everybody to sign up. If you can't help Stang's friend, there are plenty others that may benefit from your generosity. Keep the faith Stang.

I can guaranty anybody worried about these things (and they are reasonable concerns) - this IS NOT an issue. There are various organizations out there (Such as the leukemia and lymphoma society) that will ensure you won't suffer financially as a result of a donation.

Signing up doesn't commit you to anything. See if you can match somebody then make an informed decision. If its not for you at that particular time of your life everybody will respect that decision.

They will send a test kit to your home. Swab your cheek yourself and send it in. If you are a potential match, you may hear something someday. Unfortunately, it is a minuscule % of potential donors who will ever be a close enough match to be considered as a donor. It's a numbers game for those awaiting a transplant. The more people that sign up, the better the chance.

In pinball terms, you are more likely to find that $50 MM at your next door neighbors garage sale than you are to be asked to be a donor. But you never know if you don't sign up.

Off my soapbox, thanks to everybody.

I didn't say you were going to make $ by doing this. I said there are organizations that will make sure it doesn't create a financial hardship on you if you do decide to become a donor. Health insurance, for instance, is a non-issue. The recipients insurance will pay 100% of your medical costs. If neither party has insurance, the transplant center will usually find a way to absorb all the bills.

Reality is, "bone marrow" transplants are becoming increasingly rare. If marrow does need to be harvested from a donor, you are looking at a 24-48 hour hospital stay. Many blood cancers can be treated with peripheral stem cell transplants. If that's the case, the donor takes a day off work, gets hooked up to a machine not unlike donating blood, and the stem cells are harvested out of your blood for transplant. A simple 4 hour outpatient procedure.

Point being, financial hardship as a result of being a donor is pretty much a non-factor.

So much misinformation in this post, sigh.....please don't let comments like this dissuade you from learning the facts and considering signing up.

If you would have stopped after the first sentence, sure.

I apologize if I came across as a pr#ck, that was not my intent. As I said earlier, my teenage son has leukemia. He will never be cured absent the kindness of a complete stranger like the people on this thread. His disease makes me rather passionate about this issue. Again, I am sorry if I offended you and I would like to keep this thread moving in a positive direction.