Latest news with #WorldBloodCancerDay
New Indian Express
7 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Experts warn of rising blood cancer cases among children, cite pollution and chemicals as key causes
BHUBANESWAR: The incidence of blood cancer or leukaemia in the country is on the upward spiral with a high number of children getting afflicted by the disease, experts said. Addressing an event organised at IMS and SUM Hospital here to mark the World Blood Cancer Day on Wednesday, head of the Hematology department, Hemato Oncology, Bone Marrow Transplant Prof Priyanka Samal said pollution, radiation and use of chemical fertiliser are among the prime causes of blood cancer. 'Though new cases of leukemia are being detected among the young children in the age group of one to 10 years, around 80 to 90 pc of the children are able to defeat the disease with proper treatment and care,' she added. The symptoms of the disease which include continued fever, fall in haemoglobin, total leukocyte count and platelet level, appearance of black spots on the body and bleeding, should not be ignored. 'Once diagnosed, it can be cured depending on the stage. We have the latest treatment regimen like bone marrow transplantation, haplo transplant and Chimeric Antigen Receptor- T (CAR-T) Cell Therapy, which have been very successful,' Dr Samal added. Eminent neurosurgeon and SOA's principal advisor (health sciences) Prof Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, dean Prof Sanghamitra Mishra, medical superintendent (MS) Prof Pusparaj Samantasinghar and MS of SUM's Phulnakhara campus Prof Rajesh Lenka spoke.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Children battle leukaemia better: Cancer experts
1 2 Bhubaneswar: Children in the age group of one to 10 years are getting leukaemia, but they are displaying the capacity to defeat the ailment better, said experts attending a programme organised at IMS and SUM Hospital here to mark World Blood Cancer Day on Wednesday. Dr Priyanka Samal, professor and head of department of haematology, hemato oncology, bone marrow transplant and cellular therapy at IMS and SUM Hospital here, said the incidence of blood cancer or leukaemia in India is on the upswing, with a high number of children affected. "Though new cases of leukaemia are being detected among the young, around 80 to 90 per cent children are able to defeat the disease with proper treatment and care," said Samal. She said pollution, radiation, and the use of chemical fertiliser were among the prime causes of the disease. The symptoms of the disease, which include continued fever, a fall in haemoglobin, total leukocyte count and platelet levels, appearance of black spots on the body, and bleeding, should not be ignored. This calls for urgent blood examination of the patient and medical consultation, she added. "In case children suffer from fever for 8 to 10 days, they should get medical attention," said Samal.
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scotland is below the UK average in lifesaving stem cell donor registrations
New data released by blood cancer charity DKMS reveals that just 2.1% of 16-65's in Scotland are registered as potential stem cell donors with DKMS – below the UK average of 2.4%. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As the UK marks World Blood Cancer Day on 28 May, DKMS is calling on people across Scotland to take action, and help to give people with blood cancer a second chance at life by joining the stem cell donor register. Every 14 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer. For many patients, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor is their best or only chance of survival – but only a very small proportion of the UK population are currently registered as potential donors. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad DKMS spokesperson Deborah Hyde says, 'When a patient needs a stem cell transplant, only one in three will find a donor in their immediate family. This means that two thirds of patients will need to find a stranger who is a compatible stem cell match, and who can offer them a second chance at life. Joining the register means that you could offer that lifeline for someone in their time of greatest need. Most people will never be called to donate, but if you are, you have the potential to save someone's life'. Rachael is also a qualified nurse One such patient is Rachael Nixon, a 39 year old nurse and single mum from Fife, Scotland. Last year, she began to experience loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, extreme fatigue, and dizziness. She initially put it down to juggling life as a new mum, but after visiting her doctor, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer known as myelofibrosis. Rachael is a mum to a one year old named Daisy, and she says, "My greatest fear when I was first diagnosed was that I wouldn't be around to raise my daughter. It kept me awake at night, she's so young, if I died, would she even remember me?'. Unfortunately, no one in Rachael's family was a match, and so a global search began to find a stranger who could give her another chance at life. People across the UK who heard her story began signing up to the stem cell donor register through DKMS. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rachael says, 'Since being diagnosed I've been so overwhelmed with the amount of people whose first response is, 'Can I be tested for you?', which is just the kindest gesture. I feel so thankful that I have so many people out there who want to do what they can to help save my life.' Rachael Nixon - who is having her stem cell transplant on World Blood Cancer Day - with daughter Daisy Then, earlier this year, Rachael received lifechanging news. Not one, but two people had been identified as her stem cell donor match. These complete strangers, both based in America, have said that they would be happy to donate their cells. Now, in an extraordinary turn of events, Rachael has been scheduled for her potentially life-saving transplant on World Blood Cancer Day itself – 28 May. Rachael continues, 'It took a few days for the news to sink in, but when I found out I had a match – in fact two matches – it felt like a miracle. Because those people joined the register, I'm getting another chance at a life with my daughter, and on World Blood Cancer Day! I would encourage everyone to join the register, it's so easy, but for people like me, it can change everything'. Rachael is marking World Blood Cancer Day with DKMS by encouraging everyone aged 17–55 and in good general health to order a free swab kit via their website ( complete a simple cheek swab, and return it to be added to the register. Things you didn't know about blood cancer: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Every year, nearly 13,000 people die from blood cancer in the UK. At any one time there are around 2,000 people in the UK in need of a stem cell transplant. Of those registered, only 16 % are from UK minority ethnic backgrounds. This makes it more difficult for patients from these backgrounds to find a match. Signing up to the stem cell donor register is a quick and easy process involving some painless mouth swabs: if you are aged 17-55 and in general good health, you're eligible to join the register with DKMS. If you are then matched with someone needing a transplant, in nine out of ten cases donating is a simple, outpatient process similar to donating blood platelets.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Rise in blood cancer cases among children in central India a cause for concern: Docs
Nagpur: Doctors of the city have raised concerns about the rising number of children being diagnosed with a type of blood cancer in central India. The alert comes on World Blood Cancer Day which is observed on May 28. According to data from Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, more and more children are being treated for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), the most common type of blood cancer found in kids. ALL is a fast-growing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. It affects white blood cells which normally help fight infections. In ALL, these cells grow uncontrollably and crowd out healthy blood cells. Over the past four years, GMCH Nagpur has witnessed a significant increase in the number of patients with blood cancer. In 2021–22, 22 children were diagnosed with ALL, and by 2024–25, that number jumped to 35. Doctors say that in 2022–23 alone, the number of new patients went up by 82%, which is a big leap in just one year. This trend shows that more children are falling sick with this type of cancer and also that more are getting diagnosed and treated in time. "This is a serious issue. The number of children with ALL is rising rapidly in Nagpur," said Dr Riya Ballikar, a blood cancer specialist. "We're not exactly sure why, but the possible reasons include pollution, pesticides, infections at a young age, and maybe even family history. But what worries us the most is the diagnosis which is often late," she said, adding, the number at GMCH Nagpur is just a part of the total cases in Vidarbha. She claimed that the real figure in the community is way more. Dr Ketan Modak, a blood cancer expert from AIIMS Nagpur, stated that Nagpur now offers numerous modern treatments that help treat blood cancer more effectively. Monoclonal antibodies are specially designed laboratory-made proteins that target cancer cells and help the immune system destroy them. Targeted therapy means drugs that attack only the cancer cells without harming the healthy ones. However, Dr Modak warned that many children still don't have access to such care as many advancements are yet to reach Nagpur. The expert stressed the need for more awareness campaigns, better screening at local health centres, and affordable treatment options. Snapshot of Blood Cancer Cases in GMCH Nagpur Year — Cases — ALL Kids — Under Treatment '21–22 — 54 — 22 — 6 '22–23 — 84 — 30 — 18 '23–24 — 72 — 32 — 9 '24–25 — 75 — 35 — 20
Scotsman
28-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Scotland below the UK average in lifesaving stem cell donor registrations
New data released by blood cancer charity DKMS reveals that just 2.1% of 16-65's in Scotland are registered as potential stem cell donors with DKMS – below the UK average of 2.4%. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As the UK marks World Blood Cancer Day on 28 May, DKMS is calling on people across Scotland to take action, and help to give people with blood cancer a second chance at life by joining the stem cell donor register. Every 14 minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer. For many patients, a stem cell transplant from a matching donor is their best or only chance of survival – but only a very small proportion of the UK population are currently registered as potential donors. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad DKMS spokesperson Deborah Hyde says, 'When a patient needs a stem cell transplant, only one in three will find a donor in their immediate family. This means that two thirds of patients will need to find a stranger who is a compatible stem cell match, and who can offer them a second chance at life. Joining the register means that you could offer that lifeline for someone in their time of greatest need. Most people will never be called to donate, but if you are, you have the potential to save someone's life'. Rachael is also a qualified nurse One such patient is Rachael Nixon, a 39 year old nurse and single mum from Fife, Scotland. Last year, she began to experience loss of appetite, vomiting, weight loss, extreme fatigue, and dizziness. She initially put it down to juggling life as a new mum, but after visiting her doctor, she was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer known as myelofibrosis. Rachael is a mum to a one year old named Daisy, and she says, "My greatest fear when I was first diagnosed was that I wouldn't be around to raise my daughter. It kept me awake at night, she's so young, if I died, would she even remember me?'. Unfortunately, no one in Rachael's family was a match, and so a global search began to find a stranger who could give her another chance at life. People across the UK who heard her story began signing up to the stem cell donor register through DKMS. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Rachael says, 'Since being diagnosed I've been so overwhelmed with the amount of people whose first response is, 'Can I be tested for you?', which is just the kindest gesture. I feel so thankful that I have so many people out there who want to do what they can to help save my life.' Rachael Nixon - who is having her stem cell transplant on World Blood Cancer Day - and daughter Daisy Then, earlier this year, Rachael received lifechanging news. Not one, but two people had been identified as her stem cell donor match. These complete strangers, both based in America, have said that they would be happy to donate their cells. Now, in an extraordinary turn of events, Rachael has been scheduled for her potentially life-saving transplant on World Blood Cancer Day itself – 28 May. Rachael continues, 'It took a few days for the news to sink in, but when I found out I had a match – in fact two matches – it felt like a miracle. Because those people joined the register, I'm getting another chance at a life with my daughter, and on World Blood Cancer Day! I would encourage everyone to join the register, it's so easy, but for people like me, it can change everything'. Rachael is marking World Blood Cancer Day with DKMS by encouraging everyone aged 17–55 and in good general health to order a free swab kit via their website ( complete a simple cheek swab, and return it to be added to the register. Things you didn't know about blood cancer: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Blood cancers are the third most common cause of cancer death in the UK. Every year, nearly 13,000 people die from blood cancer in the UK. At any one time there are around 2,000 people in the UK in need of a stem cell transplant. Of those registered, only 16 % are from UK minority ethnic backgrounds. This makes it more difficult for patients from these backgrounds to find a match. Signing up to the stem cell donor register is a quick and easy process involving some painless mouth swabs: if you are aged 17-55 and in general good health, you're eligible to join the register with DKMS. If you are then matched with someone needing a transplant, in nine out of ten cases donating is a simple, outpatient process similar to donating blood platelets.
