Welcome back to "Black Blood Heals" with host Tamara Weston. In today's episode, we dive into the critical world of stem cell donation and transplantation. Our esteemed guest, Dr. Brandon Blue, a hematologistoncologist, brings his invaluable insights to the table as we unpack the crucial role of HLA markers in finding stem cell donor matches, the urgent need for increased African American representation in donor registries, and why this ethnic disparity exists.

We'll explore the barriers to participation, such as a lack of awareness and education within the African American community, and discuss strategies to boost donor numbers. With African Americans currently having only a 29% chance of finding a stem cell match, Dr. Blue highlights the significance of diverse registries, the importance of tailored healthcare education, and the advancements in mismatched donor trials that offer new hope.

From the medications like filgrastim that prepare potential donors, to the details of autologous and allogeneic transplants, we'll leave no stone unturned. Dr. Blue also addresses the broader systemic changes needed within healthcare, emphasizing diverse representation among providers, and encourages a culture of openness regarding health issues.

Join us as we tackle how we can support those affected by bloodrelated cancers, the journey of patients preparing for transplants, and why your role in this fight is more important than ever. It's time to close the gap, one donor, one education session, one lifesaving stem cell transplant at a time.

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Learn more at https://www.nmdp.org and see how you can join the registry at https://bit.ly/NMDP_Registry_YT

00:00 Misunderstanding about transplant due to lack of education
04:59 Types of transplants and donor compatibility explained
09:16 Ensuring donor and recipient are perfect matches
11:01 Matching donor and recipient for best outcome
15:20 Patients need to be more open
19:18 Educate patients about options for cancer treatment
23:06 Stem cell transplant process for leukemia
23:46 Use chemotherapy to keep cancer under control
27:22 Joining the registry increases chance of call