1. Every year thousands of people are
diagnosed with leukaemia and for
many, their only hope is to undergo
a bone marrow stem cell transplant.
However, finding a donor can be
quite challenging.
ER24 and the South African Bone
Marrow Registry (SABMR) are
urging people to become possible
bone marrow stem cell donors.
Professor Ernette du Toit,
medical director and co-founder
of the SABMR, said, “Leukaemia,
cancer of the white cells, knows no
limits and affects people of all ages
and ethnicities. Sadly, it is the most
common form of childhood cancer.
Donors are a key component to
saving lives, and that begins with
you,” she said.
Illnesses
Leukaemia patients are not the only
ones in need of stem cell
transplants.
People with illnesses such as
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
(cancer of lymphatic system), bone
marrow failure (severe aplastic
anaemia) and some genetic blood
and immune system disorders such
as sickle cell anaemia also require
bone marrow stem cell transplants.
“These illnesses can affect anyone.
Although bone marrow transplants
are not always successful, they
often give someone their only
chance of recovery.
“The SABMR’s youngest patient
was an infant just 10 months old,”
said Prof Du Toit.
At present there are 70 000 donors
on the SABMR. While it may seem
like a lot, more donors are needed
considering that a perfect match is
required.
Tissue types
Prof Du Toit added that there is
a very large number of possible
tissue types. The best chance of
finding a match is within the
patient’s family.
“There is a 25 percent chance of
finding a matching sibling donor
but with smaller family sizes and
more diverse families, these odds
are dropping.
“For the majority of patients, they
will need to find a matching
Bone marrow donors neededunrelated donor.
“This is where the SABMR comes
in.
“We are the only medical facility in
South Africa that conducts complex
searches to identify life-saving
donors,” said Prof Du Toit.
The chance of finding a matched
unrelated donor is just 1 in 100 000.
“This is the average. For some with
more common tissue types, chances
may be better.
“Sadly, for some other patients,
chances are much less,” she said.
She added that it is more likely to
find a matching donor for a patient
from the same ethnic group.
This is however a greater challenge
in some ethnic groups than in others.
For example, there are only 4 500
potential donors on the registry who
are black according to Prof Du Toit.
She said this is a concern
considering the population
distribution in South Africa.
“While it is possible to find a
matching donor from a different
ethnic group to the patient, it is less
likely.
“It is just a matter of frequency,”
she said.
The SABMR often searches for
perfectly matched donors world-
wide.
“Donors living in other countries are
found for 75 percent of patients in
South Africa.
“This is made possible through the
SABMR’s collaboration with 67
registries worldwide, with 27
million registered donors. Our staff
has travelled as far as Taiwan to
collect these cells.
“This is somewhat of a ‘military
operation’ to ensure that the cells
reach our patients within 72 hours.
While our staff collect the donated
cells, our patients have their dis-
eased bone marrow cells destroyed
with chemotherapy.
“This leaves a window period of 72
hours during which the patient must
receive the matched healthy cells,”
said Prof Du Toit.
The SABMR has also identified
several South African donors that
have matched overseas patients.
Many people fear signing up as
potential donors because they
believe the procedure to retrieve the
stem cells involves a large
needle being inserted into their
bones.
This is not the case. Stem cells are
collected from the donor’s blood, in
a similar way that one would donate
blood or platelets.
Prof Du Toit said most donors
describe the process as
uncomfortable but not painful.
Requirements
So where do you start if you would
like to become a potential donor?
All healthy individuals aged 18 to
45 can register as a potential donor
by contacting the Sunflower Fund,
the SABMR recruiting agency, on
0800 121 082.
If you fulfil the criteria you will
receive an application form and
health questionnaire.
You will be directed to a blood
sampling facility to determine your
tissue type.
Your form and tissue typing result
will be forwarded to the SABMR,
where your details will be entered
into the SABMR database.
You will receive an SABMR donor
card to confirm that you are a
potential donor.
You will remain on the SABMR
database until your 60th birthday, or
until you ask to be removed.
If you have concerns about becom-
ing a donor, e-mail admin@sabmr.
co.za
Visit www.sabmr.co.za for further
information.
ER24’s Emergency Contact Centre
can be reached 24 hours a day on
084 124 for any medical
emergency.
If you are on the registry and turn out to be a possible
match, the following will happen:
• You will receive a call from the SABMR informing you
that you have been identified as a potential match for a
patient. If you are willing to proceed, the SABMR will
arrange for you to undergo several additional blood tests
to further establish the suitability of your bone marrow.
• Once confirmed as a match, you will undergo a health
check-up by a medical doctor.
• You will receive daily injections of neupogen from a
week prior to the procedure. Neupogen is a naturally
occurring hormone in the body that stimulates the
production of stem cells. The injections ensure the donor
produces sufficient cells for their body and for the patient.
Some donors experience flu-like symptoms which is a
side effect of the neupogen.
• On the day of the procedure, the donor will be admitted
to a collection facility and attached to a cell-separator
machine, usually by intravenous line in both arms. It
usually takes four to six hours to collect the stem cells.
An SABMR member will accompany the donor
throughout the process.
• On completion, the SABMR member will ensure the
cells are transported safely to the patient.