Somerset stem cell donor urges others to sign up after dad's diagnosis
A Somerset woman is encouraging others to join the stem cell donor register after successfully donating to a patient following her father's cancer diagnosis. The charity DKMS highlights that only 7% of eligible adults are registered, leaving many patients without a match.
Why it matters
Increasing the donor pool is critical for treating blood cancers and autoimmune disorders, as 30% of patients currently fail to find a matching donor.
Image source, Kate Coggan Image caption, Kate Coggan was inspired to donate by her father's cancer diagnosis
A stem cell donor who signed up following her dad's cancer diagnosis is urging others to follow suit.
Kate Coggan, from Catcott in Somerset, was inspired to donate in March after her father Mike was diagnosed with myeloma, a type of blood cancer.
She expected to wait a long time before a match was found, but it took just 13 days for her to be assigned to help a cancer patient. Coggan described the process as "emotional" and "a privilege".
Stem cell transplants are used to treat some cancers, blood conditions and autoimmune disorders, and can save or extend lives, but only 7% of eligible adults are on the register – meaning some patients don't ever find a donor.
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