The National Marrow Donor Program's Office of Patient Advocacy receives
$1.5 million award to help cancer survivors like Ryan
MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryan Jacobs of Shakopee, Minn.,
has been a cancer survivor most of his life. Diagnosed with acute
myelogenous leukemia at just 5 months old, Ryan's family was told he needed
a bone marrow or cord blood transplant to survive.
Ryan received a successful cord blood transplant after his doctor
searched the National Marrow Donor Program's(R) (NMDP) Registry and found a
matching donor. Transplant recovery is a slow process, but this tenacious
young boy pulled through and has been a cancer survivor now for five years.
FINDING SUPPORT FOR LIFE AFTER CANCER
After a bone marrow or cord blood transplant, most survivors have some
long-term side effects or complications. Some of these disappear over time;
others are permanent. While some complications are fairly easy to manage,
other long-term effects can be serious or painful.
"As a growing number of transplant patients like Ryan live longer,
there is a vital need for comprehensive advocacy and resources for the
survivor community," said Beth Murphy, director of the NMDP's Office of
Patient Advocacy.
The NMDP's Office of Patient Advocacy recently received an esteemed
$1.5 million award from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to further
provide support, educate and promote the importance and issues surrounding
long-term cancer survivorship. With this five-year award, the NMDP's Office
of Patient Advocacy plans to:
-- expand the NMDP's existing survivorship programs;
-- develop partnerships with other national, patient-focused organizations
and resources;
-- focus on providing resources for patients from medically under-served
communities; and
-- increase access to programs and resources to promote and protect
survivors' health.
Today, 5-year-old Ryan feels great and just started kindergarten this
fall. His family currently volunteers their time to help recruit more
donors to the NMDP Registry and to raise awareness and support for cancer
survivors like Ryan.
About the National Marrow Donor Program
The NMDP facilitates unrelated marrow and blood cell transplants as a
single point of access for a long-standing collaborative network of
national and international leading medical facilities in marrow and cord
blood transplantation. The NMDP connects patients, doctors, donors and
researchers to the resources they need to help more people live longer and
healthier lives. For more information call 1 (800) MARROW-2 or visit
http://www.marrow.org. Join online at marrow.org/join.
SOURCE National Marrow Donor Program
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Related links:
http://www.marrow.org
CONTACT:
Shauna Sheffer of National Marrow Donor
Program, +1-612-627-5886, cell, +1-612-437-7591
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