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ARMENIAN BONE MARROW DONATION SCREENING TO BE HELD IN WASHINGTON DC
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/22/armenian-bone-marrow-donation-screening-to-be-held-in-washington-dc/
By Contributor // August 22, 2013
By Lawrence V. Najarian, M.D., AAHPO President
WASHINGTON-On Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, Armenian Americans in the Washington
DC area and those attending the AYF Olympics will have the opportunity
to help Armenians in need by participating in a painless cheek swab
screening.
Volunteer health care professionals will be on hand at the AYF Olympics
to perform the simple screening test, which will generate data for
the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR).
The screening event is being co-sponsored by ABMDR, Armenian American
Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) of N.Y.-N.J.-C.T., and
Armenian American Health Association (AAHA) of Greater Washington, DC.
The ABMDR data is used to match Armenians in need of a genetic match
for a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. About 200 Armenians are
known to be in need of a match that could save their lives.
At this year's event, the sponsors are featuring the case of Cici,
who is a cousin of celebrity Kourtney Kardashian. After 17 years of
battling cancer, Cici's body is no longer responding to chemotherapy
and she is in
Cici (left) with her cousin, Kourtney Kardashian
need of a stem cell bone marrow transplant. In the past, AAHPO has
publicized the cases of Debbi Margosian Chapman, Irene Katrandjian
and young Charlotte Conybear.
Armenian DNA is distinct, and this becomes an issue when a genetic
match is needed. Armenian patients will find their best chance for
a match in the Armenian community. Health professionals are striving
to motivate Armenians to participate in simple screening tests that
will place their genetic data in a registry of possible donors.
Every year, thousands of patients are diagnosed with leukemia and other
life-threatening blood diseases. On any given day, more than 6,000
patients worldwide are searching for a donor. Many people erroneously
believe that a genetic match usually comes from a family member.
"Only 25 percent of patients afflicted with leukemia or other
life-threatening blood disorders find donors within their families.
The other 75 percent of patients' lives depend on finding a perfectly
matched unrelated donor, usually from their own ethnic community,"
noted Frieda Jordan, MD, who heads the Armenian Bone Marrow Donation
Registry.
Another stumbling block is that many Armenians don't know that
the screening test is a painless cheek swab. When a genetic match
is identified, it is easy to become a donor. Recent advances in
transplantation technology use peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC)
collection-a safe and non-invasive way of collecting life-saving stem
cells from donors.
PBSC collection is similar to giving blood; a donor's stem cells
are removed and the blood is returned to the donor. Within a couple
of weeks, donor stem cells are replenished. There is no surgery,
no anesthesia, and no cost to the donor. Those with questions are
invited to call the AAHPO hotline at 201-546-6166.
"The Armenian American Health Association of Greater Washington,
DC is very excited to collaborate with AAHPO and ABMDR. By working
together, we will raise regional awareness of this pressing medical
need," noted Grigor Khachikian, MD, AAHA president.
All Armenians ages 18 to 50 and in good health are urged to be screened
and have their data entered in the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
(www.abmdr.am ).
Note: On August 17, AAHPO shared a TV interview with
Oncologist-Hematologist Terenig Terjanian, MD about Bone
Marrow Transplants, which was aired in the New York area by
Voice of Armenians TV. You may watch the program online at
http://www.aahpo.org/tv/video-06-29-2010.html
From: A. Papazian
http://www.armenianweekly.com/2013/08/22/armenian-bone-marrow-donation-screening-to-be-held-in-washington-dc/
By Contributor // August 22, 2013
By Lawrence V. Najarian, M.D., AAHPO President
WASHINGTON-On Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, Armenian Americans in the Washington
DC area and those attending the AYF Olympics will have the opportunity
to help Armenians in need by participating in a painless cheek swab
screening.
Volunteer health care professionals will be on hand at the AYF Olympics
to perform the simple screening test, which will generate data for
the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR).
The screening event is being co-sponsored by ABMDR, Armenian American
Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) of N.Y.-N.J.-C.T., and
Armenian American Health Association (AAHA) of Greater Washington, DC.
The ABMDR data is used to match Armenians in need of a genetic match
for a stem cell or bone marrow transplant. About 200 Armenians are
known to be in need of a match that could save their lives.
At this year's event, the sponsors are featuring the case of Cici,
who is a cousin of celebrity Kourtney Kardashian. After 17 years of
battling cancer, Cici's body is no longer responding to chemotherapy
and she is in
Cici (left) with her cousin, Kourtney Kardashian
need of a stem cell bone marrow transplant. In the past, AAHPO has
publicized the cases of Debbi Margosian Chapman, Irene Katrandjian
and young Charlotte Conybear.
Armenian DNA is distinct, and this becomes an issue when a genetic
match is needed. Armenian patients will find their best chance for
a match in the Armenian community. Health professionals are striving
to motivate Armenians to participate in simple screening tests that
will place their genetic data in a registry of possible donors.
Every year, thousands of patients are diagnosed with leukemia and other
life-threatening blood diseases. On any given day, more than 6,000
patients worldwide are searching for a donor. Many people erroneously
believe that a genetic match usually comes from a family member.
"Only 25 percent of patients afflicted with leukemia or other
life-threatening blood disorders find donors within their families.
The other 75 percent of patients' lives depend on finding a perfectly
matched unrelated donor, usually from their own ethnic community,"
noted Frieda Jordan, MD, who heads the Armenian Bone Marrow Donation
Registry.
Another stumbling block is that many Armenians don't know that
the screening test is a painless cheek swab. When a genetic match
is identified, it is easy to become a donor. Recent advances in
transplantation technology use peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC)
collection-a safe and non-invasive way of collecting life-saving stem
cells from donors.
PBSC collection is similar to giving blood; a donor's stem cells
are removed and the blood is returned to the donor. Within a couple
of weeks, donor stem cells are replenished. There is no surgery,
no anesthesia, and no cost to the donor. Those with questions are
invited to call the AAHPO hotline at 201-546-6166.
"The Armenian American Health Association of Greater Washington,
DC is very excited to collaborate with AAHPO and ABMDR. By working
together, we will raise regional awareness of this pressing medical
need," noted Grigor Khachikian, MD, AAHA president.
All Armenians ages 18 to 50 and in good health are urged to be screened
and have their data entered in the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry
(www.abmdr.am ).
Note: On August 17, AAHPO shared a TV interview with
Oncologist-Hematologist Terenig Terjanian, MD about Bone
Marrow Transplants, which was aired in the New York area by
Voice of Armenians TV. You may watch the program online at
http://www.aahpo.org/tv/video-06-29-2010.html
From: A. Papazian