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Cancer in children: Life-saving stem cell donations urgently sought!
On International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15th, the “Giving for Life” association is calling for free typing for stem cell donors.
Cancer in children: Life-saving stem cell donations urgently sought!
On February 14, 2025, the association “Giving for Life – Leukemia Aid Austria” is calling for an important action on the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day on February 15. Every year in Austria, an average of 76 children and adolescents are diagnosed with leukemia, one of the most common childhood cancers. However, the chances of recovery are high if diagnosed early, and the survival rate is an impressive 95 percent. However, without timely help, the lifespan of acute leukemia can be limited to just three months, as the reports from meinebezirk.at show.
In order to help the affected children, typing is called for. This means that young adults between the ages of 17 and 45 can be typed in order to be available as potential stem cell donors. A stem cell transplant may be the only chance of survival for leukemia patients who do not respond to chemotherapy. According to Susanne Marosch, chairwoman of “Giving for Life”, the provision of these donors is crucial because many patients have difficulty finding suitable donors in the global stem cell database because genetic characteristics must match. Everyone who allows themselves to be typecast increases the chance of saving a child's life, according to the association's powerful message.
Uncomplicated typing
Typing is carried out simply and conveniently using a cheek swab, which is carried out with a cotton swab. The association offers free typing sets that are sent to order. Those interested simply need to use the kit at home and return the sample tube free of charge for laboratory analysis. The aim of the campaign is to minimize the effort for potential donors and thus encourage as many people as possible to undergo typing. If you not only want to be informed but also want to actively participate, you can find further information about stem cell donation and support options on the website of the “Giving for Life” association.