Thousands in need for stem cells
Every year thousands are diagnosed with leukaemia. For many of them, their only chance is to go for a bone marrow stem cell donation.
“A stem cell donation can be a cure for more than 70 diseases,” said Kim Webster, head of communications for The Sunflower Fund.
By registering as a donor you are potentially the difference between life and death for a patient.
“A patient in search of a match is technically looking for their genetic twin.
“This is not as easy as finding a blood type match or an organ donation, where you can receive it from anybody,” Webster added.
She said that there is only a 25 per cent chance of finding matching within family members. Seventy-five per cent of patients globally are dependent on unrelated donor matches.
“A donor can be a match for someone anywhere in the world, however more often than not, a match is usually from the same ethnic background as the patient,” Webster said.
She added that it is important for people of all ethnicities to sign up as a potential donor.
Donor criteria
There are certain health conditions such as a personal or family history with cancer, various chronic conditions, and a weight of under 50kgs or a BMI of more than 40. Donors need to be between the ages of 18 and 45 years old.
Donating stem cells
If you are called as a match for a patient you will contacted and informed that you are a match and to confirm that you are still committed to donating stem cells.
“If yes, you will need to go for a medical exam to confirm that you are in good health to ensure no risk to you or the patient.”
A few days before the donation or harvesting date, as it is also referred to, you will be given a series of growth hormone injections to stimulate the production of stem cells in the body.
“On the day of the donation, you will undergo a process similar to donating platelets. A needle will be inserted in both arms.
“Blood is drawn from the one arm, goes through a cell separator machine that extracts the stem cells and is then pumped back into your body via the other arm,” added Webster.
The entire process can take between four to six hours and once you have been a donor, you get taken off the registry.
Becoming a donor
If someone is interested in being a donor, they can call The Sunflower Fund’s toll free number 0800 12 10 82 and their Donor Recruitment staff will take them through the process. There is a basic health screening questionnaire that they will go through with them telephonically.
There are no physical tests to be carried out. Once the health screening questionnaire is completed, a form will be emailed to the potential donor. Donors will be directed to the closest clinic that The Sunflower Fund is partnered with to have bloods drawn.
