Samsun Training and Research Hospital Turkey Stem Cell Center (TÜRKÖK), the only one in the Black Sea Region, performed the 41st stem cell transplant. The young stem cell donor and the doctor in charge of the center invited everyone to become a donor.
Ministry of Health Samsun Training and Research Hospital Turkey Stem Cell Center (TÜRKÖK) successfully performed the 41st stem cell transplant. Established with the cooperation of Samsun Provincial Directorate of Health and Turkish Red Crescent, Turkey Stem Cell Center conducted 62nd donor screening in 11 months. “I became a donor, there is always hope for people,” said 27-year-old Anıl Uludoğan, the 41st stem cell donor at the center.
“We would like you to give a tube of blood for the study of your tissue group”
Giving information about the procedure, Samsun Training and Research Hospital Internal Diseases and Hematology Specialist. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sude Hatun Aktimur said, “Our apheresis unit was opened as of March 2023. As of November 2023, we started working with the TÜRKÖK coordination center. We have screened 62 donors so far. We are receiving stem cells from our 41st donor. Stem cells are not taken from any large vein, which we call a central vein, but from the arm, like taking blood or giving blood. We also encounter questions from our people such as 'is a piece of bone marrow taken? No, we do not take blood from the bone marrow but from the normal vein of our patient. After completing treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy for cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and bone marrow, when the need for stem cells arises in the continuation of the treatments, we first scan the relatives. If we cannot identify compatible in-relative data, together with TÜRKOK, we take blood from non-relative donors, that is, donors whose tissue group matches. We ask you to go to the Red Crescent and give a tube of blood for your tissue group to be studied. We will also undertake the task of transmitting your tissue group to the bank and delivering these stem cells to sick people in case of need.”
“They said it was 'a very good thing' for me and the other party”
Stem cell donor Anıl Uludoğan said, “I was contacted by the Red Crescent to donate stem cells. I also wanted to be a donor. Our doctors and nurses recommended it to me. They said it was 'a very good thing' for me and the other party. I expect everyone to donate stem cells. There is always hope for a human being.”
The center, which is located in 8 provinces in Turkey, is the only TÜRKÖK in the Black Sea Region. Thanks to stem cell transplantation, many bone marrow diseases such as lymphoma and leukemia can be successfully treated. According to the information obtained, the number of patients struggling with these diseases and waiting for stem cell transplantation is around 2-3 thousand. These patients are waiting for donations to hold on to life.
İHA Haber Kodu: 20241024AW315048
