Blood cancer charity DKMS urges people in Cardiff to save lives after fall in registrations 

·       DKMS is urging more people from Cardiff to join the blood stem cell register

·        Last year, lifesaving registrations in Cardiff fell by 73% compared to 2020

·   This follows a shocking national trend, with just over a third (37%) of people registering in the first 3 months of this year compared to last Spring

·   DKMS is urging people to register now, to give someone a second chance at life at dkms.org.uk

DKMS is urging people in Cardiff to register as blood stem cell donors to help give a second chance at life for someone with blood cancer. The charity continues to feel the aftershocks of the pandemic which devastatingly impacted the number of people signing-up. Lifesaving registrations in Cardiff have fallen by 73% compared to 2020.

There is an urgent need for people to help meet the demand for donations and reverse the decline in registrations. Sadly, Cardiff follows a national trend, with just over a third (37%) of the number of people in the UK registering in the first 3 months of this year compared to last Spring.

A stem cell transplant can be the last hope of survival for patients and despite the hope of a return to normalcy, a big push is needed in 2022 to help give those with blood cancer the best chance. A blood stem cell donation from a genetically similar person can offer a second chance at life for those in need.

Only 1 in 4 people with blood cancer (and in need of a transplant) will find a matching blood stem cell donor within their own family, which means that those in need of a blood stem cell transplant on the kindness of a stranger. The family of Sheldon Donovan (30), from Cardiff know only too well how powerless this news makes you feel.

Sheldon was in desperate need of a matching blood stem cell donor. After having night sweats, a bad cough and feeling generally unwell he visited his doctor but they couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong. After his symptoms became worse, Sheldon spent three months in hospital in 2016 before being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. Thankfully he has now found his lifesaving donor match and received a transplant. Sheldon says:

“My blood cancer diagnosis was a huge blow, but being told that my best shot at a normal life was a stem cell transplant yet no one in my family was a match was even more heart-breaking. I never thought something like this would happen to me, no one in my family has had blood cancer. I was so scared when I realised I was reliant on a kind stranger somewhere in the world to save my life. It’s impossible to comprehend how important such a small action as swabbing your cheeks and joining the register is, until it is you, your spouse, your child or your friends fighting for their life. If you eligible to sign up, please register and give other people the second chance at life that I have been given.”

Frances Callaghan (25) from Cardiff donated her blood stem cells last year, just a few months after registering with DKMS as a blood stem cell donor. Although the news to say she might be someone’s match was an initial shock, Frances saw it as an opportunity to help a stranger in desperate need. Frances said:

“I joined the stem cell register with the hopes of saving someone’s life, but I never expected to actually be called upon! I was so delighted that I got the chance to make such a positive impact on someone else’s life. I was surprised at how simple the donation process was. I got a few hours to myself to read, binge watch my favourite shows and be taken care of by the amazing nurses and other staff at the hospital. If you are fit and able, just go for it! Saving someone else’s life has got to be the most rewarding thing you can do.”

Georgina Owen, (40), from Cardiff signed up to be a DKMS blood stem celldonor after seeing a story of a little boy in need of a transplant on social media. A few years later Georgina  got the call to say she was a potential match for someone in need of an urgent donation. Shortly after that she donated her blood stem cells and received an update within 48 hours to say the patient’s body had accepted them and they were doing ok. Georgina said:

“It’s an amazing feeling to be told that I was a match for someone. I remember the nurse who explained the donation process to me telling me how rare it was for someone to find their match, so it’s a once in a life time thing you can do for someone. I felt really privileged to have had the opportunity to help save someone’s life in this way. I would do it all over again if I had to.

I was really disheartened to hear that there has been a decline in registrations to the stem cell registry since the pandemic and would urge anyone who can to sign-up. It makes you think if it was me or someone in my family, one of my children, who needed the donation you would want everyone to do anything they could to help. We all need to recognise that we could be someone’s only chance of survival but you wouldn’t know unless you’re on the register.”

Reshna Radiven, Head of Communications and Engagement, DKMS UK, said:

“This is deeply worrying. We have witnessed a huge decrease in registrations since the pandemic took hold. With only 1 in 4 people finding a match within their family, thousands of blood cancer patients rely on the kindness of a stranger.

“We urgently need more people to come forward and register, because the more people we have on the blood stem cell register, the more chance there is of our patients finding that perfect match. By signing up, you could be giving someone a second chance at life”.

Taking the first steps to register as a potential blood stem cell donor can be done within a few minutes from the comfort of your own home. If you are aged between 17-55 and in general good health you can sign up for a home swab kit online at dkms.org.uk