FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Leukemia
Patient Beats Odds and Appeals to Montreal and Toronto African
Caribbean Communities For More Registrants to Hema-Quebec and OneMatch
Registries
June
5, 2008 – Despite lack of knowledge among the general public and a
shortage of potential bone marrow donors from diverse ethnic groups, a
Montreal father of African Caribbean descent has found a match.
Animation and technology writer and blogger Emru Townsend, 39,
diagnosed with leukemia in mid-December, is married and the father of
an eight-year-old son. He is appealing to Montreal's 188 000 black
community members and the greater Toronto area’s 345 000 black
community members to learn more about being a bone marrow and stem cell
donor to help patients of African and African Caribbean descent in
Canada and around the world.
Healthy
stem cells in the bone marrow are the basis for over 200 different
types of cells in the body, including healthy blood cells. Finding a
stem cell match requires having the right combination of matching human
leukocyte antigens (HLAs) between donor and recipient. Siblings offer
the highest possibility for a match but Townsend’s only sister, Tamu,
isn’t a compatible donor. Anyone could be match, but the most likely
match shares the same ethnic background as the patient.
Of
course I'm happy that I've been able to beat the odds so far. However,
this doesn't make the issue any less urgent. Many more people need bone
marrow transplants, and their chances of finding compatible donors will
remain low unless more people step up and help increase their odds for
survival,” Townsend said.
Part
of the problem is people think a transplant is a risk to their own
health and very painful due to overdramatization, confusion about donor
experience versus recipient experience, and misconceptions that spread
through word of mouth without the proper information. Donation is
low-risk, rapid and never done when considered dangerous to the donor.
Another popular misconception is that matches are usually found in the
family. In fact, 70% will rely on a stranger to be on the registry when
they are in need. If you are of European descent in Canada, you have a
75% chance of finding a match. If you are anyone else your chance is
between 10-30%.
National
and international bone marrow registries offer the best hope, but
Townsend’s chances are lower since blacks are underrepresented in bone
marrow registries worldwide. No Caribbean countries maintain
registries, so it is up to people of African Caribbean descent who live
outside of the Caribbean to opt in to the pool of potential donors. As
of March 31, 2008, 0.7% (1633 people) of the Canadian registry are of
African descent. Due to less genetic variance, 1 in 500 Canadians of
European descent should be on the registry. One in ten Canadians with
an African background need to come forward to create a viable donor
pool: over 78 000 people.
There
are currently more than 500 active searches underway for Canadian
patients needing a bone marrow transplant. Townsend's donor may still
change their mind before his transplant. Even if his donor is
committed, many other people are awaiting donors who register because
they might match and decide that they want to save a complete
stranger's life.
“So
many people have helped, but they cannot stop because Emru is just one
person. We have failed in a way, if he is matched and everyone stops
talking on behalf of everyone else.,” said Emru's sister, Tamu.
Townsend
and his family are asking all members of the public, particularly
people from African, African Caribbean and other underrepresented
ethnic communities, to seriously consider registering with the OneMatch
Stem Cell and Marrow Network (www.onematch.ca) or with Héma-Québec Stem Cell Registry (www.hema-quebec.qc.ca).
Registering and donating if contacted could help save Townsend’s life,
that of Angela Christopher (African Caribbean) in Ottawa, who will need
one in the event of relapse, Carolyn Tam (Chinese) in Toronto,
Chantelle Chornoby (Aboriginal) of Ilford, Manitoba, and of the many
other patients waiting for a bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
Registration is easy through OneMatch. Potential donors must complete
an online questionnaire and perform a cheek swab with a kit that is
sent to their home, which they mail back in a postage paid envelope.
- 30 –
Ms. Tamu Townsend Website: www.heal-emru.com
(514) 577-9526 Facebook: Help Emru Find A Bone Marrow Donor
