Almost two thirds of Britons would not donate stem cells to loved ones, survey claims

Poll suggests young adults wrongly believe that extraction is done without anaesthesia, and is extremely painful

Nine out of 10 times stem cells are donated through the bloodstream in a straightforward process (Getty Images/Blend Images)

Nearly two thirds of Britons would not donate their stem cells – even if a loved one needed a transplant.

A survey of 2,000 adults found 61 per cent could not be encouraged to donate.

Four in 10 Britons say reports of stem cell and bone marrow transplants being too painful put them off donating.

And just 16 per cent have donated stem cells or bone marrow in the past – nearly five times fewer than have donated blood.

Doctors treat some blood diseases with stem cell transplants. Stem cells inside the body used for this have yet to develop into red or white blood cells or platelets, and usually develop inside bone marrow.

However, peripheral blood stem cell collection, which accounts for 90 per cent of transplants, is taken from the bloodstream.

The survey was conducted by blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan, whose new campaign "Be a Lifesaver" encourages more young men to join the donation register.

Rebecca Pritchard, head of register development at Anthony Nolan, said: "There are lots of misconceptions that stop or delay people from registering to save a life - and that's something we're tackling head on.

“Educating people about what it means to be a donor is a key part of our role in growing the Anthony Nolan register.

“We’re currently only able to find the best possible match for 69 per cent of patients who need a transplant so we need more people, especially young men, to join so we can find the best match for everyone.

“Joining the register is a simple process. If you’re aged 16-30 and in good health you can join the register online and we’ll send you a cheek swab in the post.”

Almost a third of young adults wrongly believe that bone marrow is extracted without anaesthesia, and is extremely painful.

But in nine out of 10 cases, stem cells are donated through the bloodstream in a straightforward process.

Just 10 per cent of people know this, the survey suggested, with the majority believing a much more arduous and painful procedure is necessary.

And of those who have previously donated stem cells to someone with blood cancer or another blood disorder, three quarters reported the process was less painful than they imagined – or not painful at all.

Rebecca Pritchard added: “Hollywood films such as Will Smith’s 7 Pounds - which portrayed a fictionalised and shocking process to a global audience – have left a lasting impact on the public.

“We’re trying to dispel this misconception, and see if more young people would be willing to give a little, in order to potentially save a life.”

South West News Service