By Reu'el McAllister Singh (Communications Intern)
Each day, countless individuals battling with leukaemia encounter an important moment when their sole survival hinges on a bone marrow transplant. Whilst some patients are fortunate enough to find compatible matches within their families, many must turn to the broader community to locate a suitable donor. Given the wide range of potential tissue types, the possibility of identifying an exact match can be as rare as 1 in 100 000.
What is Leukaemia and Bone Marrow Transplant?
Leukaemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, characterised by the uncontrolled production of abnormal white blood cells. There are several types of leukaemia, including acute and chronic forms, which vary in their speed of progression and treatment approaches. Globally, leukaemia impacts approximately 300 000 individuals each year.
A bone marrow transplant is a medical procedure used to replace damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy marrow from a donor. It involves infusing stem cells from a donor into the bloodstream of the patient to help regenerate healthy blood cells. This procedure is often used to treat conditions like myeloma, lymphoma, and other blood disorders.
Why You Need To Know About Bone Marrow Transplants
When conventional treatments fail, bone marrow transplants are crucial for treating serious conditions like leukaemia, lymphoma, and other blood disorders. They offer a chance for recovery by replacing damaged or diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells. Understanding this procedure can be life-saving, as it may provide an option for those with otherwise limited treatment choices.
When Is a Bone Marrow Transplant Necessary?
A bone marrow transplant is necessary when a person's bone marrow is seriously damaged. The procedure may also be used to replace diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells after high-dose treatments. It's a critical option when the disease has not responded to conventional therapies or when there is a need for a fresh source of healthy blood cells. Awareness about bone marrow transplants also highlights the importance of donor registries and the impact one donation can have on multiple lives.
How can I Become a donor?
Becoming a donor is a simple process. Organisations such as DKMS Africa and the South African Bone Marrow Registry (SABMR) are dedicated to expanding their donor pools. It's as simple as registering to have your profile entered into the database. SABMR will screen and enlist health information of donors between the ages of 16 – 45. Creating your tissue type profile is done via a simple cheek swab. If your profile shows a potential match, you'll be contacted by a medical professional for further health checks and be advised on how to become a transplant donor.
Becoming a transplant donor is a sincere act of kindness that can offer someone a second chance at life. After the donation process is complete, your role as a donor ends, but the impact of your kindness remains significant. A simple registration can lead to life-saving results, highlighting the importance of each donor's contribution. Your heroic contributions through support and participation is the key to finding matches and saving lives.
Create a Donor Profile today, visit:
www.sabmr.co.za – 021 447 8638
www.dkms-africa.org – 021 701 0661