Stem cell transplant has emerged as an important treatment option, and often only for many patients struggling with blood cancer such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Stem cells are often described as master cells of the body. These cells have the unique ability to develop a variety of cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, which are all necessary to survive.

In the context of blood cancer, stem cells play a particularly important role, not only in treatment but in an actual shot in existence.

“Stem cells are the original cells of all blood cells in the body,” Dr. Gopinath explained the Hemo-Ouncologist at the MGM Cancer Institute in Chennai. He said, “They produce red blood cells that carry oxygen, white blood cells that fight infection, and platelets that help in clots. They also support tissue treatment and fight inflammation,” he said.

How Stem cells help treat blood cancer

Blood cancer such as leukemia and lymphoma usually begin in the bone marrow, the same place where stem cells live and produce healthy blood cells.

Treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation is aimed at killing cancer cells in the marrow, but often also damages healthy cells, causing the patient’s ability to produce new blood.

“In such cases, we match a donor and infect their healthy stem cells in the patient. These donor cells not only revive the patient’s blood system, but also help to destroy any remaining cancer cells, which is known as the effect of ‘Graft-Banam-Lukemia,”. Gopinath said.

According to experts, stem cell donation is often the only therapeutic option for patients with aggressive or relaxed blood cancer. Patients who cannot use their cells, especially when their marrow is cancer, completely rely on donors.

This is the place where stem cells match registries and volunteers.

“Stem cell donation helps in rebuilding a healthy immune system after the treatment of acute cancer. It allows doctors to safely use high-khurak chemo or radiation, knowing that healthy stem cells can later restore the blood system,” Dr. Deepak Kumar, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Associate Professor of Shulini University said.

Dr. Kumar said that bone marrow transplantation, a form of stem cell therapy, has long been used to treat blood related diseases.

He said, “In addition to blood cancer, stem cells are being detected in areas such as spinal cord repair, osteoarthritis and even diabetes research. Their regenerative capacity is very high,” he said.

Two years ago, 25 -year -old Abdul Khadar of Kalistat stopped his Ramadan rapidly to donate stem cells, a decision that saved life and brought new hope for a family.

In 2018, Abdul registered with DKMS Foundation India as a potential donor. In 2022, he was found to have a match for a 50 -year -old man in Kochi, suffering from myelofibrosis, a rare blood cancer where scars tissue is formed in the bone marrow, making it difficult to produce healthy blood cells.

Despite being Ramadan, Abdul understood the urgency. “Save a life is the last gift,” he said. “I knew that I had to do this. I can always fast later, but this person needed immediate help.”

Today, Abdul got news of happiness that the patient is cancer -free and is living a healthy life with his family.

“Mylofibrosis is often treated only through stem cell transplant,” Dr. Neeraj Siddharth said, Hemat-Opneologist, who treated the patient at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences.

“In such procedures, healthy stem cells from a donor are infected in the patient to help re -start normal blood production. Donators like Abdul are important for the success of this treatment,” Dr. Siddharth said.

Explaining the blood stem cell transplant process, Dr. Siddharthan said, “In a stem cell transplant, healthy blood stem cells from a matching donor are infected in the patient to help resume healthy blood production. The best stem cell transplant results are when a patient has a human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and more complex.”

About 30% of patients get an HLA-mill donor within the family. However, the rest, 70 % of the patients, can do a half-mill transplant or look for an unrelated donor with a matching HLA. ,

Stem cells provide more than medical treatment, they provide hope. For many blood cancer struggle, a matched donor can mean the difference between life and death.

As science stem continues to exploit the regenerative power of cells, the role of voluntary donors becomes even more important for survival.