Stem cells are immature cells tat can develop into any cells found in the bloodstream, which is required forbody'simmune system to operate. .
Stem cell transplantations/donations help can cure those with blood disease
Stem cells are like factories located in the bones marrow and produce different parts of our blood. Sometimes, patients have diseases that damage stem cells, creating problems. Thus, they need a stem cell transplant to recover. When they do receive stem cells, the donor becomes a new factor and starts producing all the blood cells required to live.
However everyone's stem cell have a specific label, like the barcode on fruits at a supermarket that allows a compupter to recognize the type of fruit.
Patients need stem cells with a matching barcode label as their own, but with the countless of labels of stem cells, the odds of finding a match are low. Patients and donors are matched according to their compability of genetic markers called HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen). which are inherited from one's parents
Those who need stem cell transplants do not have working bone marrow due to their illnesses attacking their immune system, including cancer. About 80 diseases can and disorders can be treated with stem cell transplants. Less than 25% of patients matches with one of their family relatives, leaving 75% of patients needing stem cells from strangers.
Those between the age of 17 and 35 can become a blood donor eithe online or at a stem cell center.
One must fill out a health questionnaire and send it to a lab to determine whether that donor's cell matches to a patient.
Depending on the treatment chosen by a patient, wither a peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow is given.
Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) are collected through circulating blood, a procedure similar to donating blood called Apheresis.
Globally, 79% of collections are PBSC and only 21% are bone marrow. This procedure is non-surgical, unlike bone marrow.
Stem cells can mostly be secreted from blood. The donor is first given a medication increasing the number of their stem cells in their blood, then collected from the donor, to be ran into a sorting machine to filter out the stem cells, with the rest of the blood returned to the donor and another portion stored for patients in need.
Stem cells donations are surgical procedures (unlike peripheral blood stem cell donations) less frequently collected from bone marrow, which is given an anesthetic to make them sleep before collecting stem cells in the bone marrows of their hip. A physician uses a special needle to withdraw liquid marrow from the hope bones, taking about 40-90 minutes.
About 1000 Canadians per year are looking for a life-saving match. Studies show that the stem cells of young healthy males are the most effective to get swabbed.
swabbed: usually the process of using a cotton swab or similar device to collect a sample from someone's body, usually from their cheek, nasal passages, or throat).