05 Apr 2010
The transplantation of stem cells - widely acknowledged as one of the greatest breakthroughs in medicine - can now cure many blood cancers including leukaemia and bone marrow diseases. But for a newly diagnosed patient, the prospects of the disease remain scary and unknown.
In an effort to empower and help patients and caregivers understand the transplant process, SGH has compiled a book, “Embracing Hope: Chronicles of Blood Stem Cell Transplants”, which features first-hand accounts of patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. These stories of bravery, compassion and hope offer inspiration to those who find themselves in similar circumstances.
“Patients have often expressed how they wish someone could share with them what the transplant journey is like. At times, even caregivers and fellow colleagues feel disheartened when a patient does not do well. By compiling this book of stories, we hope to uplift, encourage and empower those reading it,” said Dr William Hwang, Director of the Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Programme at SGH.
Every year, more than 2,000 people in Singapore are diagnosed with leukemia and other blood-related diseases. For many of them, conventional treatment will not be successful and a bone marrow or stem cell transplant is their only hope for survival.
For patients who need a transplant, there is usually a one-in-four chance of finding a donor match among siblings. When there is no suitable match in the family, the bone marrow has to come from an unrelated donor. Local and international bone marrow registries have been set up to help patients facilitate the search for suitable bone marrow donors. To date, SGH has performed about 1,000 stem cell transplants – the largest number in Singapore.
To benefit needy patients undergoing stem cell transplants and to fund transplant-related education and research programmes, the book, “Embracing Hope: Chronicles of Blood Stem Cell Transplants” will be on sale at $19.90. It is available at Kinokuniya, the NUS Co-opt bookstores, the SGH Haematology
Centre (SGH Block 7, Level 2) and the Office of Student Affairs, SingHealth Academy (Post Graduate Medical Institute - SGH Block 6, Level 1). For enquiries, please contact 6326 6034.
Enclosed in the annex are some of the patient stories as featured in the book.
Click for pdf format and annex
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