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Regular readers of this blog know that stem cells are helping and have been helping leukemia patients for more than 20 years. So why do we still read about deaths due to leukemia? There are obviously multiple answers to that question. However, one problem is a lack of bone marrow donors. You see, to cure a leukemia patient, he/she will need a perfect match of bone marrow (stem cells) from a donor so the patient's body will not reject the stem cell transplant. This perfect match sometimes comes from the patient's family, but often this is not the case. Therefore, in most countries, there is a bone marrow donor registry program in which an organization tries to match up donors with people suffering from leukemia or lymphoma or other life threatening diseases that can be treated by stem cells. In America, you can find more information on how to become a possible donor at http://www.marrow.org
Here is a little more information from that website:
Bone marrow transplant is a life-saving treatment for people with leukemia, lymphoma and many other diseases. First, patients undergo chemotherapy and sometimes radiation to destroy their diseased marrow. Then a donor's healthy blood-forming cells are given directly into the patient's bloodstream, where they can begin to function and multiply.
In order for a patient's body to accept these healthy cells, the donor's tissue type needs to match the patient's type as closely as possible. Patients who do not have a suitably matched donor in their family may search the NMDP Registry for an unrelated bone marrow donor or cord blood unit. Here is a wonderful example of how by joining the bone marrow registry, you can save someone's life and make a life long friend:
Wicker, 33, discovered symptoms of leukemia in August 2002 when he felt fatigued trying to climb Mount St. Helens in Washington with some friends. From there, it got worse."I went from what I thought was totally normal to not being able to walk up a set of stairs without my heart popping out of my chest," he said.After his diagnosis the next month, Wicker traveled to Columbus, Ohio, for chemotherapy while waiting for a bone marrow match, thinking one would not prove too difficult to find. Instead, he received treatment every other month and found himself waiting.Friends and co-workers participated in bone marrow blood drives but yielded no matches."It felt like a long time -- it was getting to the point where we were talking about the quality of life," Wicker said. "Without the transplant, I wasn't going to live."Wicker received good news in March 2003 -- he had a match, and the transplant would take place April 3.Click here to read the happy ending to this story
And then click here to find out how you can join the registry and be a life long hero