Thalassemia Survivor meets his Lifesaver

Blood cancer is the generic term for malignant diseases of the bone marrow or blood-forming system, in which normal blood formation is disturbed by the uncontrolled multiplication of malignant blood cells. Because of these cancer cells, the blood can no longer perform its vital tasks, such as fighting infections, transporting oxygen or stopping bleeding.

Curing blood cancer

Blood cancer patients can often only overcome the disease with the help of a stem cell donation from a suitable donor. In the case of leukaemia and malignant lymphomas, the transfer of healthy stem cells is even the only chance of a cure.

Leukaemia

A series of malignant diseases in which there is a pathologically increased proliferation of immature and therefore non-functional white blood cells. Malignant lymphomas are divided into Hodgkin's disease (lymphogranulomatosis) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (lymphatic leukaemia) according to their different characteristics.

Lymphoma, malignant

Malignant alteration of lymphatic tissue with swelling of the lymph nodes and pathological enlargement of the spleen. Malignant lymphomas are divided according to their different characteristics into Hodgkin's disease (lymphogranulomatosis) and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (lymphatic leukemia), which originate from the lymph nodes.

Peripheral stem cell donation

Peripheral blood stem cell collection is safe and the most commonly used donation method today. Prior to the blood stem cell collection, the donor receives a daily injection of G-CSF for five consecutive days, to mobilize and build up the number of stem cells in the circulating bloodstream. G-CSF increases the number of stem cells in the peripheral blood, which are then obtained directly from the blood using a special procedure. The process is similar to a blood platelet donation that takes approximately four hours to complete. PBSC collection method

The body reproduces the stem cells within about two weeks. The procedure is comparable to a blood platelet donation and does not lead to a permanent loss of stem cells.