Your Heritage Might Save a Life; Minority Marrow Donors Urgently Needed
PHILADELPHIA (October 27, 2000) -- Each year in the Philadelphia region, hundreds of African Americans and Hispanics are diagnosed with leukemia, aplastic anemia or other life-threatening diseases. For many, their only chance for survival is a marrow or blood stem cell transplant often from an unrelated donor.
The Fox Chase-Temple Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) Program invites you to join the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. A simple blood test is all that is needed to join the Registry. All donor expenses are paid for by the patient. The initial blood test for minorities is paid for by the National Marrow Donor Program.
"Most of the patients on the transplant waiting list here in the Philadelphia region are either Hispanic or African American," said Kenneth F. Mangan, director of the Fox Chase-Temple BMT Program. "The most likely donor for them is someone from his or her racial or ethnic group."