Donors needed in bid to save cancer sufferer’s life
YOUNG PEOPLE in Guernsey have the opportunity to potentially save a life.
Mark Fallaize was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2016.
After weeks of chemotherapy in Southampton he was allowed to join his wife, two children and granddaughter back in Guernsey as his blood cell levels seemed to indicate he was in recovery.
Unfortunately, earlier this year, during a routine check-up, his blood cell levels had deteriorated and he was sent back to Southampton.
After testing it was found that Mr Fallaize had contracted myelodysplastic syndrome, a type of blood cancer where the bone marrow does not produce enough healthy blood stem cells, a rare disease that affects just seven people in 100,000.
He now needs a stem cell transplant as soon as possible and it could greatly extend his life expectancy.
‘Now it’s just the waiting game,’ said Mr Fallaize,
‘MDS does not suggest a very long life expectancy and I am just sat here on tenterhooks not knowing what the future holds.’
Research has shown younger donors offer better survival rates for patients, but the number of registered donors is just a fraction of the amount of people in the ideal age group of 16 to 30.
UK-based stem cell transplantation charity Anthony Nolan will now be visiting the island in the coming months with 3,000 testing kits to both help in the hunt for a match for Mr Fallaize as well as building the number of people on its register.
National register development manager at Anthony Nolan Rebecca Sedgwick said the people of Guernsey have always been huge supporters of the charity’s work and the need for more donors on the stem cell register.
‘I’m sure everyone will rally once more to support Mark and help us spread word of the need for stem cell donors far and wide,’ she said.
‘We especially need more young men to join because they are most likely to be chosen.
‘We are urging everybody to get behind the campaign by signing up to the register if aged 16-30 or by supporting our work in lots of other ways.’
For people with blood cancer and disorders such as leukaemia, a stem cell transplant could be their last chance.
About 2,000 people in the UK need a stem cell transplant from a stranger every year.
Although there are more than 680,000 potential donors on the Anthony Nolan register, more are needed to ensure they find the best possible match for everyone.
Businesses, sports clubs, schools and the public will be approached with the request for volunteers who are willing to take part in the drive.
The testing process will be a simple swab on the inside of the mouth and a commitment to donate if a match is found.
Mr Fallaize hope the charities visit can save as many lives as possible.
‘Somebody hopefully will save my life,’ said Mr Fallaize
‘Who knows they may find a match for me, they may not.
‘But this isn’t about me, it’s about what we can achieve, the criteria for a donor has to be so precise, we need more people on the register.
‘When you walk around Southampton hospital and you see the young children with their bandanna’s on and their lines coming out of their arms, its heart-breaking.
‘If you can take five minutes out of your life and take part in a test, you can possibly save somebody.
The exact dates of when the charity will visit the island are still being decided, as they want to make sure they have enough interest before undertaking the drive on Guernsey.
It costs the charity £40 to add each new donor to the register, so Mr Fallaize will be setting up fund raising sites, including a just giving page on Facebook to raise money to help cover their costs.
More information will be released in the coming weeks.
