Desperate appeal for lifesaver
A Jewish family in the UK has launched a global appeal to find a stem cell donor to save their mother’s life after discovering her leukaemia has returned.
A JEWISH family in the UK has launched a global appeal to find a stem cell donor to save their mother’s life after discovering her leukaemia has returned.
Sharon Berger, 65, of London was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in 2012, and was told that the only available cure was a stem cell transplant from an unrelated donor.
She had an apparently successful transplant in May 2013, but last week, a routine blood test revealed that the cancer has come back. Doctors have now told the family that Sharon has just five weeks before she will need a second transplant.
“It means that her body has not responded to the anonymous matching donor which seemed to have saved her life, and now needs another transplant,” explained her son Jonni.
Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan is now searching the world’s combined stem cell registries for someone whose tissue type matches Sharon’s. Because of her Jewish heritage, her best match is likely to be an Ashkenazi Jew.
A recent study found that of patients who receive a second transplant, one in three survived for at least another five years.
“This means that if we can find mum another match in the next five weeks, there is a good chance that she will have a second chance at life post-transplant,” said Jonni.
If a donor isn’t found, doctors may have to perform the transplant using stem cells from Jonni or his sister Caroline, a procedure which has a much smaller chance of success because her children only share half her tissue type. Two thirds of UK patients who need a transplant cannot find a matching donor within their own family.
Ann O’Leary from Anthony Nolan, said: ‘‘We’re extremely saddened to hear that Sharon’s cancer has returned … We will be doing all we can to support her and her family in the search for a donor.
“We would urge anyone who hasn’t joined up yet from around the world to consider doing so – it’s straightforward and could help save the life of someone like Sharon.
“To join our register, you must be aged 16-30, in good health and weigh at least 50kg. We are particularly looking for people from Jewish and other ethnic minority backgrounds to join, as they are currently underrepresented on the donor register.”
Jonni added, “It really is a race against time – in five weeks’ time she will need a bone marrow transplant, and a good match has not yet been found.”
To register to donate stem cells, visit Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide at www.bmdw.org.
AJN STAFF
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