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Blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan has appointed Professor Antonio Pagliuca as Chief Medical and Scientific Adviser. He replaces Professor Alejandro Madrigal who left the charity in March 2020 following his retirement.

“It is an agonising wait hoping the doctors find a matching donor, you are filled with sheer terror and desperation”

The daughter of a Hampshire man with leukaemia, is calling for more people to sign up as potential stem cell donors, with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan. She has been told that her dad desperately needs a stem cell transplant, from an unrelated donor, if he is to be cured of his cancer. 

The family of a “energetic” three-year-old from Harrow, diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder, have been left “completely shocked” after being told he is in urgent need of a stem cell donor. Together with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, they are launching another urgent plea for more people of South Asian descent to join the stem cell register and give their little boy a fighting chance of finding the best possible donor.

‘They give me 16 months to live. I’m not interested in 16 months, I’m not even interested in five years. I’m interested in the five years after that.’

We were deeply saddened to learn of Joel Esan’s death earlier this month. 

Following a diagnosis in 2018 of a rare type of leukaemia called Acute Leukaemia of Ambiguous Lineage (ALAL), Joel had to undergo a total of four rounds of chemotherapy, a course of radiotherapy and a stem cell transplant. 

Today (Monday 22 June) the UK Government set out a roadmap for the future of shielding for people in England classed as clinically extremely vulnerable (the shielding population) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Patients who have received, and are in need of, stem cell transplants fall into this category.

The previous guidance advised the shielding population to stay at home as much as possible, maintain strict social distancing while outdoors, and only spend time with members of their own household or one other person if they live alone.

Today (Monday 15 June) The Office for National Statistics published an analysis of clinically extremely vulnerable people (the shielding population) in England during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including their behaviours and mental and physical wellbeing. Patients who have received, and are in need of, stem cell transplants fall into this category.

The family of a seven-year-old girl with leukaemia, who is also recovering from Coronavirus, are calling for more people to sign up as potential stem cell donors, with blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan. They have been told that there is currently no one on the stem cell donor register who is a perfect match for their daughter.

A man from Scotland made a 1,200-mile round trip during lockdown to donate stem cells to a cancer patient. Rob Slight, travelled nearly 600 miles from his home in the Orkney Islands to Sheffield.

“I had pretty much forgotten that I was on the donor list as it had been a few years since signing up. The initial feeling was surprise followed by a determination to try and help whoever it is that I am matched with despite the pandemic.

Actor and Anthony Nolan Patron, Olivia Colman CBE, has revealed a belief she is ‘a terrible teacher’ as she adapts to lockdown.

Speaking on the blood cancer charity’s Instagram (@anthonynolancharity) with one of Anthony Nolan’s Ambassadors, journalist and TV presenter, Joe Crowley, the Oscar winning actor said she had been teaching her youngest child.