On November 20, 2008, Ryan was diagnosed
with JMML (Juevenille Myelomonocytic Luekemia). To learn more
about his story,
click here.
Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia (JMML) is a rare form of leukemia
which affects young children, generally under the age of five.
JMML
accounts for 1-2% of childhood leukemias each year; in the United
States, an estimated 25-50 new cases are diagnosed each year,
which also equates to about 3 cases per million children. There
is no known environmental cause for JMML. Since about 10% of
patients are diagnosed before 3 months of age, it is thought
that JMML is a congenital condition in these infants.
SYMPTOMS
Pallor; Fever; Infection; Bleeding; Cough; Poor weight gain; Macular-papular
(discolored but not raised, or small and raised but not containing
pus), often red, skin rash; Lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes);
Moderate hepatomegaly (enlarged liver); Marked splenomegaly (enlarged
spleen); Leukocytosis (high white blood cell count in blood);
Absolute monocytosis (high monocyte count in blood); Anemia (low
red blood cell count in blood); Thrombocytopenia (low platelet
count in blood)
TREATMENT
The only treatment that has resulted in cures for JMML
is a bone marrow transplant, with about a 50% survival rate.
The risk of relapsing after transplant is high, and has been
recorded as high as 50%. Generally, JMML clinical researchers
recommend that a patient have a bone marrow transplant scheduled
as soon as possible after diagnosis. A younger age at bone marrow
transplant appears to predict a better outcome.
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HOW CAN I HELP? |
DONATE.
Where ever you live in the world,
register with your national Bone Marrow database. To
view a list of Bone Marrow databases around the world,
click here: English | Français
CANADIAN RESIDENTS (Quebec Residents click here)
follow these steps:
- Visit www.onematch.ca today -
see if you are eligible to join
- Register online - It's FREE to
join!
- Swab your mouth with the package they send you
and return... postage is paid!
- DONE!
IF YOU ARE A MATCH!
The actual donation process is only day surgery,
under anaesthesia, a needle inserted into the
donors pelvis and some bone marrow (about a litre
of fluid) is removed. The donor is released
the same day with pain medication to heandle the
healing. You can expect to feel some soreness in
your lower back for a few days or longer. Most
donors are back to their normal routine in a few
days. Both blood and stem cells from your bone
marrow are replenished within six weeks. In certain
cases OneMatch will reimburse expenses you incur
as a result of donating stem cells. Experience
has shown that most employers are willing to give
sick time or paid leave to stem cell donors.
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
You
may be eligible to join if you are between 17 and
50 years old and meet certain health criteria. Health
problems that could make you ineligible include some
heart conditions, cancer, blood diseases, insulin-dependent
diabetes and infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS,
hepatitis B and C. As long as you are willing to donate
to any patient, and you meet the program's eligibility
requirements - you can be tested and join OneMatch.
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