Bixa525,
Results from studies should not be explained away; they should be considered for what they tell you. You asked about Neupogen and the statistics show a very small risk. The ASH 2007 study showed that at the time there was a less than 0.01% risk of death from all causes after a donation (not necessarily a result of Neopogen). Meanwhile, the risk of dying from injury in an accident (U.S. statistics) is about 0.06% annually, which is more than 6 times higher. And that 0.06% is multiplied by every year we live, while people rarely donate stem cells more than once.
That study was from data at least 5 to 8 years old and safety continually improves. Based on more and more favorable outcomes, transplants continue to migrate from bone marrow collection to stem cell collection (see
chart). But the option for bone marrow collection is still available in many cases and nobody should be blamed for deciding that a procedure is too risky. It's a very personal decision.