Every 20 minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer.
Stem cell transplants are used to treat blood cancers like leukaemia, aplastic anaemia as well as other diseases of the immune system. Chemotherapy can help in some cases, but for many people a stem cell transplant is the only chance of a cure.
30,000 new donors are needed in the UK each year to find matches for the steadily rising number of stem cell transplants taking place in the UK every year. Stem cells are found in the bone marrow – a soft, spongy tissue at the centre of certain bones – and can produce all essential blood cells, including red and white cells and platelets (which stop bleeding).
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For a successful stem cell transplant, both donor and recipient need matching tissue types and patients are more likely to match with donors of a similar ethnic heritage.
Finding a match is extremely difficult, even with millions of donors registered around the world. Patients of Asian and Black heritage, or from other mixed ethnicities are under-represented on the register and are less likely to find a life-saving match.
We have a richly diverse armed forces and civil service, with many non-UK nationals within our service, along with their family members who could all play a part in saving someone’s life.
In addition to our Black and Asian colleagues, we’re encouraging more of our young service personnel and civil servants (age 17+) to donate.
The average age is 43 and rising, and it’s critical that younger people sign up as younger donors result in a higher success rate. Sign up today, and help ensure that everyone has an equal chance of being cured of blood cancer, both now and in the future.
Your stories
MOD Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s Manzoor Hussain has personal experience of stem cell donation, due to being in the rare and emotional position of saving a family member through being a donor.
His daughter Aneesa was 17 when she was diagnosed with Very Severe Aplastic Anaemia, a rare and life-threatening blood disorder. Following months of treatments and blood and platelet transfusions up to three times per week, Aneesa’s health was seriously deteriorating, and she was told her life was dependent on receiving a stem cell transplant.
For six months there were no matches and Aneesa and her family were becoming desperate with worry. White people have a high chance of a stem cell match, but for people from an ethnic minority background, the chances fall below 40%. Miraculously, Manzoor was matched to his daughter, albeit at a lower than preferred match rate for success, so to proceed was taking a risk.
The stem cell transplant was a huge success and thanks to Manzoor’s donation, Aneesa is now healthy and active, living a full and enjoyable life. You can watch her story here: Stem Cell Donation_DIO dad saves daughter
How do I donate?
The most common method to donate stem cells is through blood, where the stem cells are separated and then your blood is returned, but in 10% of cases it may be best to take them directly from your
bone marrow in a short procedure under general anaesthetic in hospital, followed by 5 days rest to recover.
Further information: * Joining the stem cell donor register: Joining the register - NHS Blood Donation
* If you are already a blood donor you can register next time you give blood. * To read about becoming a stem cell or bone marrow donor: Donor Information leaflet
* Ask advice from your Medical Officer or GP