Bone marrow appeal - can you help?

Published on Wednesday 22 October 2008 16:50

A NATIONWIDE campaign has been launched to find a bone marrow donor for a young cancer victim.

Nathan Hancock, 22, desperately needs a donor to help him defeat a rare form of cancer, but his case is complicated by his mixed heritage.

Anyone could be a match for Nathan, but his search is harder because of the significant lack of mixed and ethnic donors, who could be the best match.

Nathan, who lives in Skegness, Lincolnshire, has a West Indies and white heritage and is appealing for people with the same, or similar, roots to join a donor register.

He said: "Finding a match would mean the difference between life and death, not only for me, but for the thousands of others who desperately need a bone marrow transplant."

Nathan, who works with adults with learning difficulties, was diagnosed with lymphoblastic lymphoma, a very rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, in February.

He was rushed into Nottingham's City Hospital and treated with very aggressive chemotherapy which forced the cancer into remission.

But within weeks of leaving hospital, Nathan became extremely ill and has just discovered the cancer has returned.

Now Nathan is fighting for his life and needs your help.

He needs bone marrow urgently to rebuild his immune system to have a fighting chance.

You can help by registering with the Anthony Nolan Trust or the National Blood Service as a bone marrow donor.

For more information about the Anthony Nolan Trust or to register as a donor, visit www.anthonynolan.org.uk Tel, 0901 88 22 234, or email [e-mail]

For information about the National Blood Service's bone marrow donor service, visit www.blood.co.uk or call 0845 7 711 711.

BONE marrow donation has come a long way in the last few years and the newest method is less intrusive.

A drug is administered for four or five days to boost production of certain white cells. The harvested cells are then injected into the patient like a blood transfusion.

You can register with the Anthony Nolan Trust by sending for a kit.

Your GP or hospital will take a blood sample and send it for testing.

You can also join by attending a recruitment clinic in your area.

Details are on the Anthony Nolan Trust website.

Blood donors can join the blood service's bone marrow list by asking a nurse before giving blood at their next session.