Sep

28 2014

Bone Marrow Registration Drive for Defeating Cancer

9:00AM - 2:00PM  

Temple Emanu-El of Haverhill 514 Main Street
Haverhill, MA 1830
978-373-3861
http://www.TempleEmanu-el.org

Contact Nancy LaFleur
978-373-3861
nancy@templeemanu-el.org

Approximately every 3 minutes one person in the United States (US) is diagnosed with a blood cancer. An estimated combined total of 156,420 people in the US are expected to be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2014. Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are expected to cause the deaths of an estimated 55,350 people in the US in 2014. While advances in treatment have greatly improved survival rates for different blood cancers- leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma, for many patients the only opportunity for a cancer cure remains replacement with stem cells or bone marrow transplantation. Individuals in good health between the ages of 18-55 are eligible to donate. The registration process on Sunday, September 28th involves a process of a simple swab of the cheek done by the volunteer and takes only 10 minutes. The swab is then analyzed for HLA tissue characteristics. The donor and patient should share at least 8 tissue characteristics, but ideally having 10 in common with a recipient would be a good match. With more than 7,000 known HLA types that occur in millions of combinations, finding a match is like winning the lottery. Every new donor raises the odds. Further information can be obtained from Jackie Berman (msberman53@yahool.com), Ashley at Ashley@dkmsamericas.org (917-634-7196) or by calling Temple Emanu-El at 978-373-3861. Potential donors are invited to register by contacting one of the above although walk-ins are also accepted. Blood Cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the US Blood cancer kills more children in the US than any other disease Every year, nearly 14,000 patients need transplants using cells donated from a perfect stranger. Only half will get them.