AUSTRALIA faces a critical shortage of registered stem cell donors, and the solution rests with younger Australians.
On World Marrow Donor Day tomorrow, the Leukaemia Foundation and Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) are urging those aged 18-35 to sign up as stem cell donors.
Around 1,000 Australians are waiting for a stem cell transplant, with 90% being blood cancer patients.
Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti stressed that the shortage of donors is compromising survival chances, with many patients waiting over a year for a match.
ABMDR CEO Lisa Smith emphasised the need for more young, diverse donors to improve patient outcomes, such as for First Nations people.
The ABMDR's Strength to Give initiative simplifies the donor process through cheek swabbing and non-invasive stem cell collection methods.
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