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The Need
- Currently there are at least 30 Chinese Canadian patients waiting for an unrelated stem cell transplant in Canada (as of January 2012).
- Every year, hundreds of Canadians need stem cell transplants to treat potentially life-threatening illnesses including:
- Cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma;
- Diseases including aplastic anemia and immune dysfunctions; and
- Genetic disorders.
- The number of transplants required for Canadian patients continues to climb. At any given time, OneMatch is searching for stem cell matches for about over 800 Canadian and 400 international patients.
- Fewer than 25% of patients will find a compatible stem cell donor amongst their siblings. All other patients rely on the generosity of unrelated donors as sources of stem cells.
- 77% of stem cells used to transplant Canadian patients come from international sources.
Finding a Match
- Most patients are most likely to find a donor in their own ethnic group. At this time, non-Caucasian registrants with OneMatch are under represented.
- But it’s not just about finding a match. The donor must be available (easy to locate) and eligible to give (for example, in good health). Other considerations when selecting a donor include blood group, age, gender, and antigen exposure, to name a few.
- Any individual can have difficulty finding a matching donor, depending on the complexity of the genetic typing they have inherited. That’s why it’s important for as many Canadians – no matter what their ethnic background – to join OneMatch.
OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network
- At the end of 2008, there were 2,166 Chinese searchables in the Canadian database.
- At the end of 2009, there were 5,145 Chinese searchables in the Canadian database.
- At the end of 2010, there were about 9,000 Chinese searchables in the Canadian database.
- At the end of 2011, there were about 17,000 Chinese searchables in the Canadian database.
- As of September 2012, there were over 21,000 Chinese searchables in the Canadian database.
You could be the one match that could save a life.
BE THE ONE… to help save a life!
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