Issue into Perspective

1. Issue into Perspective Abel Valdenegro Cre 101 Section 29484

2. What is a blood or marrow transplant? • It is a standard treatment for patients who have “life-threatening blood, immune system or genetic diseases” • It is a transplant that replaces unhealthy blood cells with healthy blood cells. • This process takes 3-4 weeks for the healthy cells to replace the bad cells.

3. The Problem • A person who needs bone marrow transplant needs marrow from a donor who is close to his or her tissue type • It is also more likely the brother and sister are suitable matches but this “happens only 25 to 30 percent of the time”

4. The Problem • Each year about 3,000 patients die every year waiting for bone marrow transplant. A number people die also from complications from a partially matched donor. • “The problem for cancer patients is that only 2% of Americans are on the national bone marrow donor registry, which makes finding a perfect donor match like finding a needle in a haystack”

5. Marrow Matches for Minorities • A static in 2004 shows how many minorities are register under the National Bone Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) • In 2004 there is approximately 6.2 million donors registered.

6. Marrow Matches for Minorities • Whites -- 3,167,307 • Hispanic -- 547,034 • African American -- 490,603 • Asian/Pacific Islander -- 429,177 • Multiple Race/Other -- 160,905 • American Indian/Alaska Native -- 74,716 • Decline/Unknown -- 1,415,542

7. How successful are bone marrow transplants? • Since 1987 the “NDMP has facilitated more than 43,000 marrow and given patients second chance at life” • The chancing of being successful is different for every patient.

8. Factors that contribute to successful transplants • The disease being treated • The stage of the disease • The patient's age and general health • How well the donor's tissue type matches the patient

9. The future of bone marrow • Today bone marrow transplants we are learning more and more information about the cells and how they can also repair tissue damage. • Hopefully in the next 5-10 years we can “develop less cellular therapies that will repair and regenerate tissue and organs damage by disease”

10. Conclusion • After my semester of research to obtain an actual transplant is quite difficult depending the circumstance of the disease, age and patient. • I still standby my decision and go forth with donating bone marrow to any patient who is in need.

11. Conclusion • After researching it has motivated me even more that I become a match very soon. • I hope to inspire people who have seen my website or PowerPoint to motivate them to register with National Bone Marrow Program.

12. Bibliography • Kuglar, Mary. "Marrow Matches for Minorities Are Harder to Find - Bone Marrow Transplants." Rare Diseases - Information About Rare Diseases. ABout.com, 02 Aug. 2009. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. <http://rarediseases.about.com/od/rarediseasesb/a/minoritymarrow.htm>. • Kurtzberg, Joanne. "Bone Marrow Transplants." DukeHealth.org. Dukehealth.org, 26 Mar. 2010. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. <http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/advice_from_doctors/your_childs_health/bonemarrowtransplants>. • Majumder, Kumud. "Let's Compensate Bone Marrow Donors - USATODAY.com." News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com. USA Today, 02 Feb. 2011. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. <http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2011-02-09-majumder11_st_N.htm>. • "Patient FAQs." Be The Match Marrow Registry. National Bone Marrow Program. Web. 01 Dec. 2011. <http://marrow.org/Patient/Support_and_Resources/Patient_FAQs.aspx>