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Help Someone’s Search By Becoming A Bone Marrow Donor Today

Michael Seeley of Ashville received good news recently.

Seeley’s sister, Jennifer Scolton, is a match for the bone marrow transplant Seeley needs to treat the acute myeloid leukemia he was diagnosed with earlier this year during a routine physical. The transplant could help Seeley live a normal, healthy life after his treatment ends, making him one of the 1.3 million people living with or in remission from leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma.

Not everyone diagnosed with a blood-related cancer will be so lucky.

September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s website, www.lls.org, lists several ways those who have been touched by blood cancers can make a donation. While donations are wonderful, those who are able can consider registering to be a bone marrow donor. Bone marrow transplants are the best treatment for many diagnosed with blood cancers, Each brother and sister who has the same parents has a 25 percent chance of having a sibling with matching bone marrow. But, 70 percent of patients do not have a match in their family. For these patients, doctors work together with registries around the world to find a matching unrelated donor. Among them are www.bethematch.org, a site that has information about how to become a donor.

Jennifer Scolton was the answer to her brother’s search for a bone marrow donor. Perhaps you can be the answer to a stranger’s search for a bone marrow match.

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