Seattle doc: Each child birth can help save a cancer patient
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SEATTLE -- The birth of a baby can mean a second chance at life for cancer patients, thanks to a new technique developed by a local doctor.
Once the baby is born, doctors can use the blood left in the umbilical cord, which would otherwise be discarded, in bone marrow transplants.
But because one donation yields a tiny amount of blood, Dr. Colleen Delaney with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center pioneered a method to expand one unit of cord blood in the lab. Her technique allows doctors to grow enough blood cells to transplant them into adults.
The procedure brought Christian Beattle to Seattle from Kansas. His leukemia became a death sentence when his doctors couldn't find a bone marrow donor match.
"They just said, 'That's it. We can't do anything else for you. It's too risky.' And basically just gave me a piece of paper with my odds of surviving," he said. "I had to sit around for weeks and weeks and think, 'There's nothing else that can be done for me."'
Then a friend sent him an article on Delaney's work. Beattle reached out to the doctor, who agreed his form of leukemia was aggressive and requires a transplant.
"About 40 percent of Caucasians can't find a donor," Delaney said. "And if you're someone who's of mixed race or minority background, your chances are much slimmer than that. These patients need to have the same access to life-saving therapy."
Cord blood doesn't have to match as closely, and works for almost anyone.
"We have now perfected this to where we can give patients oodles of stem cells derived from one unit of cord blood," Delaney said. "And what that's meant for someone like Christian, he engrafted in less than 10 days."
"Engrafted" means Beattle's white blood cells recovered. He was up and leaving the hospital in the fraction of the time of a traditional transplant patient.
"I believe this is equally good, if not better, just for how fast it takes hold," he said.
Beattle is just the 19th person to receive a lab-expanded cord blood transplant. Delaney hopes the number of recipient grows.
"You give life to your child, but at the same time, the blood that's left in that umbilical cord can be collected," Delaney said. "And we know there are the same life-saving stem cells in there that can be used for a bone marrow transplant and to save someone else's life."
Once the baby is born, doctors can use the blood left in the umbilical cord, which would otherwise be discarded, in bone marrow transplants.
But because one donation yields a tiny amount of blood, Dr. Colleen Delaney with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center pioneered a method to expand one unit of cord blood in the lab. Her technique allows doctors to grow enough blood cells to transplant them into adults.
The procedure brought Christian Beattle to Seattle from Kansas. His leukemia became a death sentence when his doctors couldn't find a bone marrow donor match.
"They just said, 'That's it. We can't do anything else for you. It's too risky.' And basically just gave me a piece of paper with my odds of surviving," he said. "I had to sit around for weeks and weeks and think, 'There's nothing else that can be done for me."'
Then a friend sent him an article on Delaney's work. Beattle reached out to the doctor, who agreed his form of leukemia was aggressive and requires a transplant.
"About 40 percent of Caucasians can't find a donor," Delaney said. "And if you're someone who's of mixed race or minority background, your chances are much slimmer than that. These patients need to have the same access to life-saving therapy."
Cord blood doesn't have to match as closely, and works for almost anyone.
"We have now perfected this to where we can give patients oodles of stem cells derived from one unit of cord blood," Delaney said. "And what that's meant for someone like Christian, he engrafted in less than 10 days."
"Engrafted" means Beattle's white blood cells recovered. He was up and leaving the hospital in the fraction of the time of a traditional transplant patient.
"I believe this is equally good, if not better, just for how fast it takes hold," he said.
Beattle is just the 19th person to receive a lab-expanded cord blood transplant. Delaney hopes the number of recipient grows.
"You give life to your child, but at the same time, the blood that's left in that umbilical cord can be collected," Delaney said. "And we know there are the same life-saving stem cells in there that can be used for a bone marrow transplant and to save someone else's life."
Well, to continue the saga. At the hospital this morning when I asked if the cord blood had been donated, here's the answer "it costs $1000 to DONATE cord blood" at that hospital (Providence Women and Children's) and then it is presumed to be for the "owner," they have no provisions for donations for others and it turns out MOST hospitals don't. Something is wrong here because this blood can be frozen like any other. Why aren't they doing it when so many lives could be saved?
Well this is just fantastic. Science is awesome!
Not to be negative, but who pays for this? I'm sure insurance companies will deny it on the basis of "expermental" and most people won't have the financial means to take advantage of this wonderful treatment.
 @Mamuk Luckily my insurance did pay for it. Even though it was out of network, Blue cross, Blue shield of KC. I have been told that we had very good coverage and policies at the time of my diagnosis, and although state law mandated I had to purchase the "cobra plan", as I was unable to work, It was well worth paying more for the better PPO plan. Soon my 18 months of coverage will be up and before I can work again .. so for a few months looks like i will have to be on medicare. I know  that other lesser insurance plans probably might not cover it 100%. Insurance is always a problem.
This will save many lives. With all the negativity and politics in the forefront these days, it was refreshing to read some good news!Â
Thanks to the dedication and passion of physicians and scientists like Dr. Delaney and our terrific local non-profit research institutions, many individuals will be cured of diseases that previously would have been a death sentence. Thank you Dr. Delaney, and thank you Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and other world-class research centers in Puget Sound!
Wow! Science actually works?? Who knew?!
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This is great news, hopefully AP will pick it up.
Great article,KOMO! Doctors are so AMAZING!!!!
This is amazing. Why is this not being reported nationally?
I have just talked to the young person who is having the c-section in the a.m. Â She is looking forward to making sure she signs the paper giving permission for them to use her cord blood. Thanks so much people for your help!
A baby will be born tomorrow a.m. via C-section. Is there a way that cord blood can be donated. Tell me quick so I can let the mother know.
@fyrefawx my baby was born Cesarean at Swedish Ballard and we were able to donate. It may depend on the hospital, but it is possible. This article makes me feel so good about our decision.
 @stasiacooks You have every right to feel wonderful, you very well may have saved a life. You're great!Â
@fyrefawx Oh thank you. Good for you for helping a mother (who certainly has much on her mind right now) take this path.
 @fyrefawx Just have her ask the doctor.  When I had my son a few years ago we were presented with tons of options for donating cord blood, etc.  She will just have a fill out a form.
 @Lolabear Okay, thank you so much. I'm giving her a call right now.