Thanks to a medical hero, Dr. Ernest McCulloch

This Toronto co-discoverer of stem cells is not a household name like Dr. Jonas Salk was after 1955, when he introduced the polio vaccine. 50 years ago, McCulloch and research partner Dr. Jim Till, inadvertently discovered that stem cells exists. Their discovery has since led to treatments and cures for blood cancers like leukemia. In 1960, during the Cold War, they were asked to examine the effects nuclear radiation had on how bone marrow tissue made new blood cells. The non-radiated bone marrow had caused tiny lumps to grow in one group of mice, and it was attributed to the stem cells. Hence, a revolutionary new cancer treatment was conceived.

“They rigorously proved over the course of three or four years that the single cell that gave rise to the spleen colony bumps could self renew and could give rise to all the different types of mature blood cells,” (source: The healthzone.ca) ... "Their work in the 1960s also paved the way for bone marrow transplantation for cancer patients."

McCulloch wanted to cure leukemia, and his discovery has indeed led to many being cured from it, including this blogger. However, there is much more work to be done to improve survival rates, and reduction in graft versus host disease (gvhd), i.e., the acute and chronic side effect problems, that can be harsh. Stem cell or bone marrow transplants can save lives, allow some to lead normal lives, and cure cancer. However, transplants do not always work, because for one thing, the donor/patient match may not be compatible enough. At other times, they do work but do cause gvhd, which can be life changing.

My gratitude was given to my amazing donor, but now posthumously to Dr. McCulloch who passed away last week at the age of 85. McCulloch and Till's award winning and diligent research has given hope to many who face blood cancers.

You too can give hope and save a life, not just through being a blood donor, but being a stem cell donor. A blood test is taken and the specific (HLA) characteristics and matching criteria are recorded in a registry bank. There could well be a person who needs your exact blood match.

If interested please see the contact information below. You can find out more at the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network, Canada

Canadian Blood Services
1800 Alta Vista Drive
K1G 4J5 Ottawa, Ontario
Canada TEL: +1-613-739-2435

FAX: +1-613-739-2275

Email: cbs.onematch@blood.ca

Website:

Dwindling Family Size Causing Transplant Donor Shortage

Blood cancers like leukemia can be treated and possibly cured through bone marrow or stem cell transplants, but because of smaller family size, the number of sibling donors are declining, and so are the chances of patient survival. If you have leukemia for example, there is a 25% chance that a sibling will be a good enough genetic match to pursue the transplant treatment. The larger the family, the better the odds. However, family size is dwindling, and the chances of a patient getting a family match will be half of what it was only some years ago.

Transplants can save lives, though different hospitals/doctors put the success rate at anywhere between 40-75% or more. The transplant process itself is very risky for the patient, can be an 15% chance of not making it, due to infections on a wiped out immune system. Some transplants are very successful, and return many people back to their normal lives, and others have side effects (graft versus host disease), sometimes life altering follow up problems, while others just do not make it at all.

But the chances of surviving with a transplant is much greater than just from chemo and radiation alone. And, ideally the donor would be a family member, male donors for male recipients preferably too. But with smaller families comes more risks. The other hope is to receive a transplant from an outside donor, and that can save lives too. Sometimes the risks are higher for graft versus host disease complications, but other times, it works well.

So if you are ever inclined to feel like saving a life by being a possible bone marrow or stem cell donor, check out OneMatch to sign up as a donor.
p.s. Many thanks to blood donors for saving thousands of lives each year.

Mixed Race Boy Needs Stem Cell/Bone Marrow Transplant

Seven year old Lucas Blake has a blood disorder called Fanconi anemia, in some ways similar to leukemia. the disease prevents his bone marrow from making new blood cells. (CTV's story)

A bone marrow or stem cell transplant gives a patient great hope, if, there is a good match found. There is a 25% chance that a sibling is a match. The larger the family the greater the odds. However, Lucas' case is much more rare. His newborn brother was found not to be a match.

His dad is of Jamaican descent and his mother is of Portuguese descent. That makes finding a match more difficult because the best chances of finding a stem cell donor is within your own ethnic group.

It's a long shot but if there is anyone out there with a similar ethnicity, contact OneMatch (1-888-236-6283), a stem cell and bone marrow donor registry.
Most of the people on Canada's stem cell and bone marrow registry, OneMatch, are Caucasian; a full 83 per cent. Only 0.5 per cent are black. And only 0.13 per cent are multi-ethnic.