Leukemia and lymphoma baby boomers have new hope

Leukemia and lymphoma baby boomers have new hope

A new ray of hope has been shown by doctors of Loyola University Hospital. Patients who are above sixty and suffering from chronic diseases like leukemia and lymphoma are considered ineligible for the umbilical cord blood stem cells transplant. However, according to Loyola hospital doctors, it can offer treatment to patients even in their sixties or early seventies. The reason quoted by the director of Loyola Cancer Center was that most of the aged people today are much concerned about their health. They do exercises, run marathons and therefore have developed the ability to live for a longer time period.

This is the reason that it is safe for them to receive a transplant of stem cellsjust like teenagers. The median age of patients when they suffer from blood cancer is 65 to 68. Those who have this cancer and undergo conventional surgical methods possess less than five percent survival rate for five years. However, in Loyola six out of seven patients who have undergone this cord blood stem cells transplants are showing better performance than expected. A fact that becomes integral to know at this point is the stem cell transplantation is very risky and an exhausting treatment.

The patient is given chemotherapy and also radiation for the destruction of cancer cells. This also damages the cells of immune system of the patient. For that, sufferer is induced with donor stem cells that further develop into immune system cells. Beside these the body might also develop several infections until immune system gets developed completely. Once immune system gets developed under some conditions, it might attack own body. This is called graft vs. host disease. As a result, several drugs are provided that further boost the risks of many infections. Donor cells are taken from bone marrow or from umbilical cord storage.

Cord blood transplant is considered safe on the baby boomers than bone marrow transplant. Only ten percent of people with cord transplant develop graft vs. host disease as compared to fifty percent with bone marrow. However, a small quantity of stem cells is derived form cord blood which further increases the time limit to develop immune system. The center is involved in a medical trial in which cord blood is sent to laboratory to double the stem cell count. Loyola has cured more than 3000 patients till now and is one of the largest donor programs in the whole world. It has performed above ninety transplants. Moreover, it is the center's experience that decides the success rate of the transplant.

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