Through Stem Cell Donation, You Could Actually Help Save Someone’s Life

It goes without saying that losing someone close to you is extremely difficult. It can be especially devastating if the loved one’s taken prematurely.

I lost an aunt to cancer when she was in her 40s. It was traumatising for the family she left behind as everyone tried to figure out what it meant to live life without her.

When someone passes away at such a young age, the grief can be overwhelming. There’s hopelessness and powerlessness. Shock and devastation. For a long time, all you’re left with is questions.

“How could something like this happen?” “Is there anything I could have done?” Often, of course, there’s nothing that could have been done to prevent what’s happened. In some circumstances, though – thanks to advancements in stem cell research – there actually is a way you can help, and the first step doesn’t involve much more than opening up, saying “Ahhh” and letting someone rub the inside of your cheek with one of those long Q-tips.

You may not know them personally, but every 28 minutes, an Australian is diagnosed with blood cancer — someone whose life could be saved by a stem cell transplant. Behind this statistic; these people are fathers, brothers, children, partners and friends. Many of these people need stem cell donors, but donors are in short supply in Australia. So, we need more of them – a lot more.

We especially need males aged 18-35 (you stay on the registry until you’re 60) from a variety of ethnic backgrounds to donate. That’s right, fellas. We. Are. In. Need. You might be sitting around, feeling kind of worthless and sorry for yourself because you haven’t yet achieved anything in your 20s and 30 is coming a lot faster than you thought it would. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong. Research has shown that we’re the perfect demographic for stem cell donation, which is a bit of a numbers game. The more young men who register, the more likely it is that a patient will find a match. In case you’re wondering how likely it is you’ll be chosen, just know that the overall odds are one in 1500. But they go way up if you’re a young man between 18 and 35. So consider this your official invitation lads, it’s time to lend your strength — and, nine times out of 10, about four hours of your time (the length of a blood donation) — to those in need. (If you’re over 35, you’ll have to find some other way to add value — more on that below!)

How To Join The Registry

Donating stem cells is way less complicated than you think. If you’re interested, here’s how you do it:

1. It starts with a cheek swab — quick, easy, painless. This swab puts you on Australia’s stem cell donor registry, Strength to Give.
2. Once you’re registered, you might become a match for a cancer patient who urgently needs a transplant.
3. If you do match with someone, just head to the hospital to donate your stem cells. Nine out of 10 times it’s only a quick outpatient procedure — similar to a long plasma or blood donation.
4. You’re done. You’ve just helped by being a part of a solution for those affected by blood cancer.

Unfortunately, there are a ton of myths circulating out there about stem cell donation. First of all, it’s not painful. No complicated surgery necessary! You’ll be awake the whole time. Occasionally — only about 10 percent of the time — the doctors might need to take some stem cells from your hip in a quick surgery. (This sounds scarier than it is.) Also: if you’ve donated blood, that doesn’t mean you’ve already donated stem cells; it’s a separate procedure.

However you identify, you’re eligible to donate your stem cells. There are no restrictions for gay or bisexual men (unlike with blood donation). If you’re transgender or nonbinary, you’ll be respectfully asked about the sex you were assigned at birth, for medical purposes.

And, if you’re not eligible to join Strength to Give just yet, there are lots of other ways you can help in the meantime. You can raise awareness by sharing what you know about stem cell donation to friends and family, and help recruit donors. You could even become an ambassador, using all your networking skills to organise events and encourage involvement from businesses.

The takeaway here is: you genuinely have the power to make a huge difference in the fight against blood cancer. It may not be someone you know, but it’s a life worth saving.

Show you’ve got the Strength to Give. Sign up to register as a potential stem cell donor today. 

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Image Credit: Unsplash / Brooke Cagle