There are 350,000 people in the UK on the Bone Marrow register, only 8000 of them are Asian.
This is an excerpt from an email from Nisha who is 30 years old, from South London.
Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), for which I am currently undergoing intensive treatment at The London Clinic. The statistics show that my chances of long term survival (defined as surviving a five-year disease-free period) are currently in the range 10-42% but, this would increase dramatically to 40-63% with a successful bone marrow transplant.
There is a register (The Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Donor Register) of 350,000 people in the UK that have signed up to be potential donors for strangers. It sounds like a large number, but it is so hard to find a match that it really isn't.
Asian donors are more likely to be a good match for me, but unfortunately the register only contains 8000 Asian donors so the odds are slim.
In order to register as a bone marrow donor you need to be aged between 18 and 40 years old (up to 43 if you are from an ethnic minority) and be in good health. To get on to the register you need to complete an application form and have a simple blood test. This will then be sent to the laboratories for tissue typing.
After joining the register, if you are found to be a match for someone, further blood tests would be needed for more detailed analysis.
If a sample of your bone marrow could save someone's life, then you would need to go into hospital for two nights. Bone marrow is extracted under general anaesthetic using a needle and syringe from your hips (leaving a tiny pinprick and no scar). As with any procedure under general anaesthetic, there are minor risks involved. My experience of having bone marrow removed two weeks ago was very straightforward, the only effect was that it left my hips and lower back feeling a bit bruised for three to four days afterwards.
It is not a simple decision. The thing that I really ask you to do with all my heart is to consider the option without delay and make an active decision, rather than leave this at the bottom of your 'To Do' list to decide on another time.
The process takes up to four months from the initial blood test to transplant, so to be most helpful to me, I need you to make your decision soon.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for actively considering whether to register as a potential bone marrow donor. The decision either way is entirely yours and I respect it ? the register is confidential and there is no need for you to let me know what you decide. If through my illness we can boost the register and save other lives too that would be an amazing thing.
With love, best wishes and my sincere thanks,
Nisha
The Anthony Nolan Trust - Bone Marrow RegisterThe National Blood Service - do something amazing give Blood
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