WHO NEEDS STEM CELLS?

Each year, hundreds of Canadians are diagnosed with a life threatening disease such as
leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic anemia, sickle cell anemia as well as immune dysfunctions
and genetic disorders. Today, nearly 1,000 Canadians are in need of a stem cell
transplant.

Aside from using many units of blood from blood donors, many of these patients will
require a stem cell transplant in order to regain their health.

Stem cells are immature cells that “grow up” to become more specified cells. The stem
cells used to treat blood cancers are immature blood cells that grow up to become either
red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets.

Only 25% of patients are able to find a compatible stem cell donor within their own family

75% of patients and their families must turn to OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network,
to find an unrelated stem cell donor.
WHAT IS ONEMATCH STEM CELL AND MARROW NETWORK?

OneMatch is part of Canadian Blood Services. OneMatch will search the Canadian and
international registries to help Canadian patients find a compatible unrelated match.

Likewise, OneMatch will also search the Canadian registry to help find a match for
international patients around the world.

OneMatch is a network composed of over 330,000 generous Canadians, who have
provided their information and indicated a willingness and commitment to donate their
stem cells to any patient in need anywhere in the world.

OneMatch is also linked internationally with other registries and therefore has access to
over 19 million generous registrants who are willing to do the same: donate stem cells to
save a life of a complete stranger anywhere in the world.

With access to so many generous people, we are still unable to find a match for nearly
1,000 Canadian patients currently waiting. Finding a stem cell match is really like
searching for a needle in a haystack.
CANADIAN DIVERSITY NEEDED

The best chance of finding a match from an unrelated donor comes from within a
patient’s own ethnic group due to the ethnic groups’ unique genetic markers. Canada’s
database is 75% Caucasian! OneMatch is making a concerted effort to widen the
ethnic representation of the database to better reflect our Canadian society.
IN SEARCH OF THE OPTIMAL DONOR

The national and international transplant community has defined an ‘optimal donor’ as
young, healthy male between the age of 17 and 35. As a result we have a special need
for young, healthy male donors aged 17-35 of different ethnic backgrounds to join
OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network.

Patients have a higher post-transplant survival rate when stem cells are received from a
male donor in that age group.

Healthy young men aged 17-35 are more likely to be chosen to donate, however they
currently account for just 12% of registrants on the OneMatch network. Males of different
ethnic backgrounds in that age category account to only 5% of registrants on the network.

As a result, currently Canadian patients receive more help from international donors
rather than domestic ones. We are hoping to change that by having many more young
and healthy male donors join the Canadian registry to better support our patients.
HOW TO JOIN THE REGISTRY

Participate at the upcoming David Suzuki Secondary School OneMatch Stem Cell
Swabbing Event on Tuesday, December 1st from 11am until 2 pm in the school
cafeteria.