You can save a life: call for BAME lockdown lifesavers
UCL Marrow, in partnership with Anthony Nolan, are calling for students to sign up to the stem cell donor registry. Emily Hufton reports.
Whilst some have been enjoying the tranquility of a halted Britain these past few months, many are not so lucky. For those diagnosed with blood cancer, the search for matching stem cell donors can’t be paused. But even as the demand remains high - at least five new people start their search for a matching donor each day - the pandemic has seen a huge drop in the number of people registering to be donors. This is a particular problem for patients from Black, Asian, and ethnic minority backgrounds, who already face increased challenges in finding a match. This is why UCL Marrow, in conjunction with Anthony Nolan, have launched a drive for students, especially those from BAME backgrounds, to sign up to the donor registry.
By Preeti Bhavra, Vice President of UCL Marrow
Bone marrow is the body’s source of hematopoietic stem cells, which are responsible for the generation of platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. Numerous conditions, including blood cancers, impair this function, hugely impacting - and in many cases - threatening the patient’s life. Fortunately, this is something many of us can help to combat: bone marrow transplants provide patients with healthy stem cells, giving them a second chance at life.
By Preeti Bhavra, Vice President of UCL Marrow.
As both the stem cell donor and recipient must have the same tissue type, not every patient in need is able to find a match as things stand. Two in three patients requiring a bone marrow transplant rely on the heroism of strangers on the donor registry. While the chances of finding a suitable donor on the registry is relatively high for white patients, it drops to just 20% for patients from a Black, Asian, or ethnic minority background. This disparity has a heavy cost.
In their 2018 drive to combat the blood and organ ‘donation crisis,’ MPs identified three key factors underpinning the lack of BAME donors. Lack of awareness, mistrust of healthcare professionals, and perceived cultural barriers have all been suggested to play a part in the donor divide. With a medicine curriculum still in need of decolonisation and a historical disparity in survival rates of white and BAME patients, it is of little surprise that communities are wary of calls to donate. The impetus is now on healthcare and education professionals to work with community leaders to bust the myths surrounding donation in a manner sensitive to all cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds. The aim is to normalise the donation process and ensure that everyone feels empowered to take a step towards saving a life.
By Preeti Bhavra, Vice President of UCL Marrow
The majority of people on the bone marrow register are never called to donate — an average of just one in 800 are — but simply by being on the list, they have the potential to save someone’s life. If the process of donation is straightforward and painless (90% donate via their bloodstream), signing up to the register is even more so. For those interested aged between 16 and 30, in good health, and weighing above 50kg, the first step to sign up is to head online; UCL Marrow recommends the Anthony Nolan website. Here, potential donors can read more about the process and fill in an application form. The applicant will then receive a cheek swab to return before being added to the register, where their name will stay until they are 61, unless they request otherwise.
Whilst everyone who meets the above requirements is welcome to sign up — regardless of sexuality, gender, or race — male donors and BAME donors of any gender are particularly needed. This will help to diversify the register, tackle inequality, and save more lives.
Those unable to donate or are already on the register can still have a huge impact, whether by fundraising, donating, or raising awareness; within UCL, the UCL Marrow group is doing amazing work.