‘Life begins at 40’ After I was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2014, I didn’t just feel shocked. I felt numb. I’d just turned 40 and everyone was saying: ‘Life begins at 40’. But instead, my life had suddenly taken this unexpected turn and my whole future was in doubt. I was so lucky that Anthony…
‘On this day, three years ago, a stranger saved my life’ – John’s story
George had only been on the register a couple of months when he got the news that he was a potential match. It would be two years until he would know just how much of a difference he made to John and his family. To raise awareness during Blood Cancer Awareness Month, John has shared…
‘Recovering from blood cancer during Covid-19’ – Bethan’s story
When Bethan began treatment for blood cancer last year, she never expected that it would take so much from her, or that she would be recovering in lockdown. Yet, she has focussed on the positives and as her strength grew, she decided to take on a challenge for Anthony Nolan to help others going through…
Is cord blood a better source of stem cells for some blood cancer patients in need of a transplant?
In this blog, our Science Communications Manager, Jonathan Kay, looks at a recent study that highlights the potential benefits of selecting a cord blood transplant over a matched related donor for some patients with blood cancer. Introduction When someone needs a stem cell transplant to treat their blood cancer or blood disorder, they can rely on organisations like…
An Occupational Therapist’s guide to managing recovery, during and after a stem cell transplant
Bronagh O’Kane and Claire Forde are Senior Occupational Therapists who support a range of patients in the Haematology Department at Northern Ireland Cancer Centre. Occupational therapists help stem cell transplant patients manage daily tasks including self-care, work, leisure, and tasks at home. Bronagh and Claire share their advice on how to look after yourself during…
How research is improving our understanding of COVID-19 and its impact on blood cancer patients
Against daily news articles on COVID-19’s impact and possible new treatments or vaccines, it can be very hard to get a clear picture of the research landscape around the virus. Here Anthony Nolan’s Dr Jonathan Kay summarises the medical research underway to improve our understanding of COVID-19 and examines how it affects patients with blood cancer. Jonathan also talks about IMPACT’s COVID-19 clinical trial for stem cell transplant patients which is part funded by Anthony…