Stem cell donor dropout puts cancer patients at risk

South Africans who need life-saving stem cell transplants are facing significant challenges owing to a high rate of donor attrition.

Despite over 30 000 South Africans registering as stem cell donors in 2023, more than half of matched donors changed their minds upon receiving the call.

Unlike immediate medical donations like blood, stem cell donation involves a multi-stage process.

This leads to uncertainty among registered donors and impacts their response to donation requests.

“If notified, they will be asked to undergo confirmatory typing to determine whether they are the best match for the patient and healthy enough to donate,” said Palesa Mokomele, head of community engagement and communications at DKMS Africa.

“It is usually at this point that they decide whether or not to proceed with the donation.”

For more information on becoming a stem cell donor, visit www.dkms-africa.org

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