Primary Immunodeficiency: How we all learn from very rare genetic disorders

Tues., Nov. 20 at the Johnson GEO Centre, 6 - 9:30 pm.

This event will be of particular interest to individuals living with primary immunodeficiency, hereditary disorders of the immune system, their family and friends, health professionals especially laboratory technologists, nurses, physicians, pharmacists and all those interested to learn more about the immune system. This event will also be of interest for the many patients who develop an acquired immune system defect either due to viral infection, cancer or cancer therapies. This event is open to the public. www.med.mun.ca/NLBloodDisorders

"The Platelet: Friend or Foe" - Nov. 1 at GEO Centre

The NL Thrombosis, Blood and Immune Disorders Education and Research Project will be holding a meeting at the Johnson GEO Centre at 6:30 pm on Nov. 1. See details below. "The Platelet: Friend or Foe"

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Sara J. Israels, Professor of Paediatric Hematology/ Oncology, University of Manitoba

Dr. Margaret L. Rand, Professor of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology and Paediatrics,University of Toronto

Presentation and panel discussion 6.30 -9 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

The event will be of interest to anyone living with a platelet disorder, cancer or taking anti platelet agents such as Aspirin or Plavix, their family and friends. The event will also be of interest to physicians, nurses, lab technologists, students and anyone interested in medical science. Platelets are small particle which are activated in the blood-stream at the time of injury and help to limit bleeding.They play a key-role in atherosclerosis and metastatic cancer. Understanding how they are produced, how they function, how to measure their activity and how to inhibit their function is key to progress in fighting many different illnesses.

This event is open to the public. http://www.med.mun.ca/NlBloodDisorders/Home.aspx

November 1 2012
6.30 - 9 pm
GEO Centre, St. John's

Primary Immunodeficiency: How we all learn from very rare genetic disorders

The NL Thrombosis, Blood and Immune Disorders Education and Research Project invites the public to attend an event called Primary Immunodeficiency: How we all learn from very rare genetic disorders.

National medical experts will present on this and other immune system disorders.

It takes place at the Johnson GEO Centre Sept. 11, 6 - 9:30 p.m.

This will be of interest to people with a primary immunodeficiency, or other immune system or blood disorder, their families, physicians, nurses, students, and other health care workers.

Everyone is invited and admission is free. Refreshments will be provided.

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia ( CML) A good news story for cancer researchers

You're invited to the GEO Centre on Monday, April 2, from 7-10 pm to presentations on CML.

Support Groups Online

Uptodate – Patient Information Clinical Trials NIH Leukemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma BC Cancer Agency Ontario Cancer Care Leukemia and Lymphoma Society International Myeloma Foundation Association of Cancer Online Resources Myelodysplasia / Aplastic Anemia and Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplasia Association of Canada (AAMAC) Marrow Forums includes support for those with AA-PNH CML Advocates Network Hemophilia Bleeding Disorders in Women Women Bleed Too The Haemophilia Society The National Hemophilia Foundation Victory For Women with Blood Disorders THE CANADIAN HEMOPHILIA SOCIETY The Haemophilia Foundation of New Zealand About Women’s Health Canadian Hemophilia Society World Federation of Hemophilia Clotting Disorders Stop the Clot The Heart.org Thrombosis Interest Group of Canada

NL Thrombosis, Blood & Immune Disorder Project March 1 Event

If you or someone you know has a blood or immune system health problem like leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma or blood clotting complications, please let them know about event at the Geo Centre. Specialists will speak about these conditions and research being done.

March 1, 2012
7 - 10 p.m.
GEO Centre
St. John’s, NL

Dr. M. Larijani will present “The human immune system; links to
leukemia and lymphoma” and

Dr. R. Chitsike will present “An overview of Venous Thromboembolic
Disease including Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary
Embolism (PE)”

This event is open to the public.
The talks will be of interest to health-care professionals,
students, patients with their families and friends.
The lectures will discuss issues of interest for patients
living with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma,
hypercoagulability, deep venous thrombosis
and pulmonary embolism.

Question and answer period to follow presentation.

Cash bar. Refreshments will be provided at 9 p.m.

Refreshments will be served. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Dwindling Family Size Causing Transplant Donor Shortage

Blood cancers like leukemia can be treated and possibly cured through bone marrow or stem cell transplants, but because of smaller family size, the number of sibling donors are declining, and so are the chances of patient survival. If you have leukemia for example, there is a 25% chance that a sibling will be a good enough genetic match to pursue the transplant treatment. The larger the family, the better the odds. However, family size is dwindling, and the chances of a patient getting a family match will be half of what it was only some years ago.

Transplants can save lives, though different hospitals/doctors put the success rate at anywhere between 40-75% or more. The transplant process itself is very risky for the patient, can be an 15% chance of not making it, due to infections on a wiped out immune system. Some transplants are very successful, and return many people back to their normal lives, and others have side effects (graft versus host disease), sometimes life altering follow up problems, while others just do not make it at all.

But the chances of surviving with a transplant is much greater than just from chemo and radiation alone. And, ideally the donor would be a family member, male donors for male recipients preferably too. But with smaller families comes more risks. The other hope is to receive a transplant from an outside donor, and that can save lives too. Sometimes the risks are higher for graft versus host disease complications, but other times, it works well.

So if you are ever inclined to feel like saving a life by being a possible bone marrow or stem cell donor, check out OneMatch to sign up as a donor.
p.s. Many thanks to blood donors for saving thousands of lives each year.