The Greek Gray Leukemia Foundation
was established by the late bone marrow donor advocate
Greek Gray in October 2004, to raise awareness, improve
patient access to unrelated donor marrow transplants, educate
and initiate action on the part of patients and donors
about the need to increase marrow blood cell donors from
people of color.
What is Leukemia? Leukemia is a deadly cancer that affects
the bone marrow, the soft, spongy center of the bone
that produces blood cells.
A life threatening disease can strike at anytime. No
one is immune and it usually strikes without warning.
In the US, the American Cancer Society estimates that
over a million new cancer cases will be diagnosed each
year. Of these cancers over 35,000 new cases will be
leukemia which is the primary cancer of the blood. Incidence
rates for all types of cancer are 7% higher in African
Americans and those of African ancestry. Leukemia is
among the top 15 cancers in minority groups. While the
incidence of leukemia is not high in African Americans,
the option of successful marrow transplant (as a treatment
option for the best chance for cure) is less in this
group due to availability of suitable genetic trait specific
donors. Leukemia’s occur in two primary forms:
Acute (fast growing) and Chronic (slow growing). In adults
with leukemia the best chance for cure lies in a marrow
or stem cell transplant. When a cancer of the blood forming
marrow occurs (such as leukemia) there are three ways
to collect the needed stem cells for transplant: Bone
Marrow (from the spongy portion of the bone where blood
cells are produced and grow), peripheral blood stem cells
(from the blood) and cord blood (from the umbilical cord
after child birth).
Blood cell transplants require matching specific genetic
traits between the patient and the donor. Therefore,
the best possibility for a specific match of the blood
stem cells is between a patient and donor of the same
genetic heritage. The match for the blood stem cells
is more complex than blood type such as in a blood transfusion.
There are multiple human antigen blood cell matches that
are required between the transplant recipient and donor.
African American patients have a greater chance of having
more matches on the human antigens blood cells when the
donor is African American.
For this reason, the Greek Gray Leukemia Foundation is
committed to raising awareness in the African American
community about becoming a member of the marrow donor
registry and be available to "Swab for Life to Save
a Life" with a painless Cotton Swab test from the
inside of the cheek can possibly provide a match to save
the lives of Leukemia stricken blood cancer victims.
Through the “Resources for Recovery and Renewal” the
Greek Gray Leukemia Foundation serves to minimize the
cultural, social, medical and financial barriers that
hinder many patients from getting the outcome they desire.
In addition, the Foundation provides educational awareness
for underserved and vulnerable individuals, counseling,
volunteer support services (in and out of the hospital),
online support groups and networking opportunities between
patients and potential marrow and financial donors, health
and fitness program, medical expense financial services
facing bone marrow transplant patients for facing challenges,
need base financial grants, group health insurance and
a host of other services.
Including, the production of national in scope public
service announcements (PSAs) motivating lifesaving solutions
prompted by individual action. |
