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Blood cancers are cancers which affect the blood and the cells of the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system. They can be damaging and fatal as it affects and can stop the immune system from working. therefore the body cannot fight off disease and infections. These infections which normally the body fights can often be fatal. Examples of these cancers are Leukemia and Lymphoma. Every20 minutes someone within the UK is diagnosed with a blood cancer. Stem cell transplants are also a cure for people with certain blood disorders, example Myeloma.

Before stem cell transplants there is a process of chemotherapy which kills cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is designed to kills cells that are multiplying and growing. sometimes healthy cells get killed too and thats why there are side effects of nausea, tiredness and hair loss. Before a stem cell transplant takes place the patient goes through a chemotherapy session to suppress their immune system so that their own immune system doesn’t attack the donors stem cells. Stem cell transplants are a cure for blood cancers and so saves lives. Transplants are a way of replacing your white blood cells with new healthy cells taken from another person. These blood cells come from your blood, bone marrow or umbilical cord. Stem cells home are in the bone marrow but can be administrated via a peripheral stem cell transplant.

The donor is administered G-CSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) a naturally occurring growth hormone, over a period of four consecutive days. This medication promotes the production of a surplus of blood stem cells, which are then extracted directly from the blood using a procedure which is similar to that used in giving blood. The DKMS family of worldwide organisations (world register of blood marrow transplants) has used this procedure since 1996, and it has been used medically for even longer. According to current research, no known long-term side effects have been documented. Short-term side effects may include flu-like symptoms, which may occur whilst the donor takes the medication. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis.

Approximately 5% of the donor’s bone marrow is extracted whilst the donor is under general anesthesia. The donor’s bone marrow regenerates completely within two weeks. The donor remains in hospital for 2 to 3 days for the bone marrow collection procedure. Following collection, the donor may experience localised pain, similar to a bruise, for a few days. This video shows the process:

Any healthy individual within the UK. between the ages of 16-55 years old. But there is some exclusions: Heart diseases (e. g. previous heart attack, coronary heart disease) Lung diseases (e. g. severe bronchial asthma) Diseases of the haematopoietic system Severe kidney diseases Thrombosis Severe illnesses of the central nervous system Cancer HIV or Aids Metabolic diseases (e. g. diabetes) Autoimmune conditions (e. g. rheumatism) Severe infectious diseases, (e. g. infectious jaundice, Hepatitis B, C) Weight under 7 stone 12 lbs/50 kg Obesity (i.e. body mass index (BMI) > 40) BMI = weight/height in cm 2

If you are between the ages of 16-30 you can register via the Anthony Nolan website where they send a spit test out to you. Anthony Nolan If you are the between ages of 30-55 you can register via the Delete Blood Cancer website where they send you out a swab test. Delete Blood Cancer If you have already registered already you don’t have to register again as their is a world global register and so your details would have already been taken.