Cape Town, 4 February 2025. Β In South Africa, one in 15 deaths among those under 75 is caused by cancer and specifically blood cancer. Β Indeed, Blood cancer is diagnosed in over 7,300 people annually. It ranks among the five deadliest types. Despite the gloomy statistics the disease is treatable and potentially curable.Β
Over 4,000 Lives Lost Annually Due To Blood Cancer
Blood cancer is a type of cancer that affects your blood cells. Leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma are some of the most common types of blood cancer. There are also types called MPNs and MDS.
Blood cancer is caused by changes (mutations) in the DNA within blood cells.
Ahead of World Cancer Day, Palesa Mokomele, Head of Community Engagement and Communications at DKMS Africa, explains that survival is possible.
Blood cancer survival is possible with donors
What is needed for better disease outcomes is a stem cell transplant from a donor who shares at least eight out of ten human leukocyte antigen (HLA) characteristics with the patient.
Reflecting on this yearβs theme, βUnited by Uniqueβ, she points out that it beautifully highlights the one-of-a-kind connection between blood cancer patients and donors, based on their shared tissue compatibility.
βWith over 20,000 known characteristics that can combine in millions of unique ways, finding a match is exceptionally rare. But when it does happen, it could potentially save a life.β
HLA characteristics vary by ethnicity. This makes Β it particularly challenging for Black, Coloured, and Asian patients to find matches, as these groups are underrepresented on donor registries.
Challenges facing underrepresented groups on donor registries
βCurrently, only 38% of the DKMS Africa registry comprises Black individuals, with Coloured (10%) and Asian (8%) donors making up even smaller percentages.
In order to improve the likelihood of matches, we must work toward increasing these figures. Moreover, it’s really important that registered donors complete the journey of donation, as high dropout rates prevent patients from getting a second chance at life.”
The warning signs of blood cancer
While every experience with cancer is unique, blood cancer symptoms vary depending on the type. Below are five common warning signs to watch out for:
- Fatigue: This refers to feeling so exhausted that you struggle to complete everyday tasks. Itβs often accompanied by a sense of weakness.
- Persistent fever: A fever can indicate that your body is combating an infection or reacting to abnormal cancer cells.
- Unusual bleeding or bruising: While bumps and injuries can lead to bleeding or bruises, it becomes concerning if bleeding doesnβt stop, or bruises fail to heal within two weeks.
- Unexplained weight loss: Losing approximately 4.5 kilograms or more without trying over a six- to 12-month period is classified as unexpected weight loss.
- Drenching night sweats: These are episodes of heavy sweating that occur unexpectedly while you sleep, leaving your bedding and clothes soaked and disturbing your sleep.
Early detection of blood cancer is critical
Mokomele insists that early detection and timely intervention are critical for improving survival rates. However, she notes that over 4,000 South African patients succumb to blood cancer each year due. This is sadly in part, to donors failing to follow through with the donation process.
βDonor attrition can hinder the search for a match and increase waiting times for a transplant, which jeopardizes the patientβs chances of recovery.β
To ensure that patients receive a second chance at life, she appeals to registered donors to routinely update their profiles to reflect their current health status, contact details and availability.
The bottom line
βThe 2025 World Cancer Day theme serves as a reminder that cancer is much more than a diagnosis.
Itβs a deeply personal experience, filled with emotions like anger, grief, pain, and hope. I urge all South Africans to keep this in mind and to take action to offer patients the gift of life,β concludes Mokomele.
If you are interested in understanding more, or being a donor register today. Click here Β https://www.dkms-africa.org/register-now.
About DKMS
DKMS is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer. It was founded in Germany in 1991 by Dr. Peter Harf and DKMS together with the organizationβs over 1,200 employees and has since relentlessly pursued the aim of giving as many patients as possible a second chance at life.
With over 12 million registered donors, DKMS has succeeded in doing this more than 115,000 times to date by providing blood stem cell donations to those in need. This accomplishment has led to DKMS becoming the global leader in the facilitation of unrelated blood stem cell transplants. The organization has offices in Germany, the US, Poland, the UK, Chile, and South Africa.
International collaboration
In India, DKMS has founded the joint venture DKMS-BMST together with the Bangalore Medical Services Trust. International expansion and collaboration are key to helping patients worldwide because like the organization itself, blood cancer knows no borders.
DKMS is also heavily involved in the fields of medicine and science, with its own research unit focused on continually improving the survival and recovery rate of patients. In its high-performance laboratory, the DKMS Life Science Lab, the organization sets worldwide standards in the typing of potential blood stem cell donors.