Facts and figures about stem cell donation

In the process of designing some leaflets and posters to encourage more people to join the stem cell register, I discovered some startling statistics I thought I would share! Unless you have had any personal connections with someone needing a stem cell transplant it is unlikely that you have heard about it or understand the process. 

Every 18 minutes In the UK someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every 45 minutes it takes a life. Not everyone that has blood Cancer will require a transplant and some can be treated and cured with chemotherapy or a combination if chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 

Only 30% of patients that need to have a donor transplant find a match within their family ( usually with a sibling ). The remaining 70% rely on the stem cell / bone marrow register. The register started in the 70's by Shirley Nolan who's son Anthony needed a donor, unfortunately non was found and he sadly died however Shirley continued to build and grow the register and the Anthony Nolan Trust was established. Anthony Nolan do an amazing job in the Uk recruiting and managing the UK register. Earlier this year the charity Delete Blood Cancer was established in the UK to help recruit more donors. No matter which way you join up you will all end up on the one central UK register. 

There are currently around 400,000 people on the UK stem cell / bone marrow register, this is great however it only represents less than 1% of the UK population?!? Half the people waiting for a transplant never find a donor in time. This needs to change! 

Right now in the Uk there is 1600 people waiting for a transplant and 37000 in the world. They just need 1 bag of stem cells that once donated could go in to save their lives? Unlike an organ, the donor won't miss them! 2-3 days after donating the donors body will have replenished its stores. 

Unlike with blood where you can have any blood that is the same blood group as you, matching for stem cells is more complicated. It is called human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing. There are over 8500 different markers and we each have 10.  As you can imagine there are millions and millions of different combinations of these. In order to be a match patients with donors for stem cell donation they need to have 10 matching markers ( although transplants can be done if 9 markers match, they are just statistically not as successful ). 

I am now trained via delete blood cancer to sign people upto the register ( via a quick form and a cheek swab ). Posters and leaflets are at the printers and im ready to go! If you are between 17-55 you can apply at www.deletebloodcancer.org.uk or even better if you can get a group of people together eg work colleagues, friends, Dance groups, sports groups etc let me know and il will come down. 

90% of people on the register will never receive a call but if you do this is a picture of someone donating their stem cells, doesn't look too scary does it!