Could you donate Stem Cells to Anthony Nolan? It's FREE :-)

Preganant? considering starting a family? Have you considered donating your umbilical cord blood to Anthony Nolan?

You could help save a life :-)

Please follow this link:

http://www.anthonynolan.org/What-we-do/stem-cell-donation.aspx

The service is FREE and would utilise the life saving properties of tissue which would normally be disposed of after your babies birth......something for nothing..and then some!

Leukaemia discovery could lead to complete remission

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British researchers found a way to destroy stem cells that sustain the potentially fatal blood cancer, in an early study on mice.

The team from King’s College London, funded by Cancer Research UK, learned that suppressing two particular proteins stops the leukaemia stem cells growing.

This could pave the way for better treatment that may enable patients to be in "complete remission". Prof Peter Johnson, the leading charity’s chief clinician, said: “This study builds on previous Cancer Research UK-funded work trying to pinpoint the molecules responsible for driving the development of MLL-related leukaemia stem cells. “Cancer stem cells appear to be more resistant to radiotherapy and chemotherapy than the other leukaemia cells, so understanding how they originate – and how we can kill them – will be a major step in being able to help even more people survive leukaemia in future.”

As many as 28,500 people are diagnosed with leukaemia in Britain every year and about 70 per cent of children and 10 per cent of adults have a type that involves mutations of the MLL gene. Only half of these children survive for two years after receiving standard treatment

To read this story in full click HERE to visit the Telegraph website.

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Leukaemia "Switch" discovery shows promise.

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Scientists have discovered how to “switch off faulty stem cells” that can lead to leukaemia, The Daily Telegraph has reported.

The research found that blocking the action of a protein called beta catenin in mice could make certain types of cancerous leukaemia stem cells revert to a pre-cancerous stage. The stem cells also became more susceptible to certain chemotherapy drug treatments.

When the researchers suppressed beta catenin in human leukaemia cells they found it could slow their division only if they carried an abnormal form of a gene called MLL, which is associated with certain forms of the disease, including one known as acute myeloid leukaemia. This suggests the results may only apply to cases of leukaemia that involve the abnormal MLL gene.

To read the full story click HERE.

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"I wanted to save my baby's cord blood,but the hospital don't offer the service"

When Natalie Salama-Levy gives birth to her second child at the end of next month she wanted to be able to donate its cord blood.

Sadly,even now there is still a great shortage of hospitals offering new mums the chance to save the cord blood held within their new childs umbilical cord. Many women such as Natalie are being told that the service is not available at the hospitals that they have their children delivered at even though the possible uses for this amazing substance are being realised more and more as scientists discover the secrets of stem cell material.

So, Unfortunately despite the fact that she is prepared to donate to help others she can not due to a nationwide lack o hospitals offering a cord blodd harvesting service."I am having the baby at the Royal Free, London, which is a very large hospital. My consultant there was very supportive, but unfortunately they are not one of the hospitals that donate cord blood which is a real shame," said 37-year-old Natalie.

\to read more of this story please click HERE to visit the BBC Health News Website.

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Anguish for Leukaemia sufferer as life-saving op is cancelled

A Maidenhead man is making a desperate appeal for bone marrow after being diagnosed with a rare and virulent form of leukaemia.

Software engineer Chris Maury, 38, is suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and doctors say his most likely chance of survival rests on getting a bone marrow transplant.
The father-of-two's chances are complicated by finding a donor with the same Anglo-Mauritian background to his own.Chris's wife, Sarah, said "It's really difficult to watch somebody you love going through an ordeal like this."I would urge everyone to consider joining the register because even if they can't help us, they may be able to save another family from the heartbreak that we are experiencing."Volunteers in the UK can apply directly to the Anthony Nolan Trust and if there is a match Chris's consultant will be informed.For more information visit http://www.anthonynolan.org.uk/ or call 0207 2841234.

Chris spoke frankly to our reporter Daniel Darlington about the effect his illness is having, and how the public can help with vital bone marrow shortages in ethnic minorities.

Video of the appeal by Chris Maury

Bone marrow (Stem Cell) donation....the facts

This is an entry that I found on Adrian Sudburys blog page "Baldy's Blog". I took the liberty of "pinching it" for this blog as it may help to dispel some of the myths and worries that surround the process of giving bone marrow, and hopefully will keep the momentum going for the vision that Adrian had of recruiting more people to become donors.

"This is a video showing how around 75% of all bone marrow donation is carried out these days.
If you want to get on one of the donor registers all you have to do is ask about it next time you give blood.
The National Blood Service provides a bone marrow register.
Alternatively, you could get in touch with the Anthony Nolan Trust.
They can send out a special blood testing kit which you can take with you to your GP.
You then post your sample back to the trust.
Specialists can tell from your blood whether you are a potential tissue match for someone or not. Your details are then entered onto one of the databases.
The two organisations work together so you only need to be on one.
If you were a match for someone who needed a transplant, and you still wanted to help, you would be given a number of injections of a naturally occurring hormone called Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor (G-CSF), four days prior to the donation.
This stimulates your bone marrow to increase blood cell production. For example, when you are ill, GCSF stimulates the marrow to make more white blood cells to fight off infection.
The injections are safe and the only side effect I experienced when I was given some on the ward was a slight ache in my bones.
A donor is then brought into hospital and hooked up to a machine called a cell separator.
As you can see from the above video a needle is put in one arm and the blood goes into the machine. The stem cells are separated by centrifugation and flow into a bag. The other parts of the blood are then returned back to the donor through a different needle.
The whole process takes around four hours.
Current research shows that these types of stem cells are the best for curing leukaemia.
However, for some conditions such as aplastic anaemia, stem cells direct from the bone marrow are more desirable.
To get these cells a bone marrow harvest is performed. This can require a two-night stay in hospital.
When I have a bone marrow sample I have to lie on my side in the foetal position. I am given a local anaesthetic and a needle is inserted into the bony bits at the back of my pelvis.
This video is not the same as a harvest but it gives you the gist.

A donor is given a general anaesthetic and the same procedure is carried out but at multiple sites. There is no bone-breaking or spine jeopardising - that is not to say it wouldn't be a bit sore in the morning!
None of these procedures are anything to be taken lightly and do represent a big commitment.
The databases are expensive to maintain so they only want people on there who are determined to help.
Donors have the final say about which method they prefer.
Ideally, it is best to be OK with both. That way if someone is unable to extract enough bone marrow cells, another option for the recipient is possible.
On a personal note I used to give blood but I never joined a bone marrow register because I thought the procedure could leave you paralysed.
That, as I hope you can see, could not be further from the truth.
I'd just like to add that we live in a world that for all its good is riddled with problems and selfishness.
Joining a register is one of the true acts of altruism and human kindness.
Who knows, you may end up saving someone else on the other side of the planet."

(Adrian Sudbury May 15th,2008)

The video in the left hand column is pretty short and sweet, but it explains the process that is, as Adrian pointed out, used now days in 75% of cases to harvest bone marrow for donation to Leukaemia patients.Go on, do something amazing and give the gift of life :-)