September’s Blood Cancer Awareness Month saw several constituents get in touch about how their lives have been affected by blood cancer, and asking for me to encourage more people to register as stem cell donors. Although it does not get as much publicity as other cancers, blood cancer is the fifth most common type of cancer in the UK and the third biggest cancer killer. It accounts for 9% of all new cases of cancer diagnosed in the UK.
Brentwood and Ongar ranks 295th out of the 650 constituencies for the number of stem cell donors - not the worst but very far from the best and there is always a need for more donors on the register so as to make sure that a match is available for everyone in need of a transplant. Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan is particularly keen to see men aged 16-30 register as donors. While anyone on the register could be a match for someone with blood cancer, men in this age bracket are most likely to be asked to donate. They make up just 16% of the register - and there is also a shortage of donors from non-white and mixed-race backgrounds.
In total, more than 700,000 people in the UK are on the Anthony Nolan register, any of whom could be a match for someone with blood cancer. If a patient has a condition that affects their bone marrow or blood, then a stem cell transplant may be their best chance of survival. Doctors will give new, healthy stem cells from donors to the patient via their bloodstream, where they begin to grow and create healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
I am very proud of the number of people in Brentwood and Ongar who have selflessly volunteered to give someone a second chance at life. Donating stem cells is straightforward but it could make an enormous difference to someone with no other chance of a cure. Please do help us improve yet more people’s chances of survival.