CMS UK in collaboration with the Leukemia Cancer Society and Dr Charalampia Kyriakou (Haematology Consultant UCLH) discussed the role of the charity in supporting patients and their families when undergoing treatment for haematological malignancies (blood cancers), such as leukemia.
Amongst other topics we raised the importance of educating and encouraging the young and healthy populations in society to consider becoming stem cell donors. For someone with a haematological malignancy, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor might be their only chance for survival.
In the UK there is need for blood donors between the age of 17 and 40 years old and from Black, Asian, minority ethnic or mixed backgrounds (BAME). Clinical data shows that transplants from younger donors are more successful. In addition, for someone from BAME background the best chance of finding a matching donor will be from someone of the same ethnicity and these chances are around 20% (vs 70% for someone with a Caucasian background). It is therefore of utter importance to mention that we need a diverse register of donors to ensure that no patient dies waiting for life saving treatment.
We can all help to donate and save someone’s life – it is painless, safe and straight forward.
For anyone aged 16-40 years old and of good health:
- Join the register online, this can be through British Bone Marrow Registry, DKMS UK or Anthony Nolan UK. Below are useful links:
- https://www.bbmr.co.uk/joining-the-register/
- https://www.dkms.org.uk/donation-explained
- https://www.dkms.org.uk/donation-explained
- Donating requires (in 9 out of 10 cases) collection of blood stem cells through the bloodstream (i.e like having a blood test). 1 in 10 donors only will have their stem cells collected by a bone marrow procedure.
