‘It only took a couple of minutes’: Students swab cheeks to become potential stem cell donors
Several organizations have partnered with Canadian Blood Services to find potential stem cell donors at both Nipissing University and Canadore College.
Booths were set up at both schools on Wednesday where students and members of public aged 17-35 to swab their cheeks to get into the national database for a potential life-saving stem cell donations.
Trinity Tuulos told CTV News it only took about 10 minutes to do the swab and register to be a potential stem cell donor. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)From registering with Canadian Blood Services to swabbing her cheeks, it only took 10 minutes for student Trinity Tuulos to become a potential stem cell donor.
"It only took a couple of minutes,” she said chuckling.
“It's a really simple, easy task. It doesn't take very long and it could really help someone in need."
Tuulos and several other students registered to be swabbed - including Curtis Drodge.
"Taking one small step can go leaps and bounds to help," he said after swabbing.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The swab kit contains four swabs to collect DNA samples from all four corners (both the upper and lower sides) of your mouth. The kits are then sent to a lab to be tested to see if the person swabbing is a match for someone in desperate need of a stem cell transplant.
"Your odds in being selected to be a match are one in 700. So it's relatively low,” said Brandon Peacock, a Canadian Blood Services community development manger for stem cells Brandon Peacock.
“That’s why when more people swab, the better.”
There are several kinds of blood cancer and approximately 80 types of other medical conditions that can be treated with stem cells. Even when a patient finds a match, half of them turn out to be unavailable to donate.
"If you know if you're selected, there's an opportunity you're a life-saver," said Peacock.
Colin Vickers is a blood cancer survivor and knows all too well the importance of these clinics.
Vickers had two kinds of blood cancer which turned into acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes a large number of abnormal blood cells. Having received a transplant in October 2021, he's now cancer free.
Colin Vickers received a stem cell transplant in October 2021 while battling acute myeloid leukemia. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)“I was treated at HSN (Health Sciences North) successfully and qualified for a stem cell transplant which effectively replaces your wonky blood as I call it," he said.
Currently, there are over 900 Canadian patients waiting for a match. A group of Nipissing University nursing students led the charge to organize it in partnership with Canadore and the Rotary Club of Nipissing.
"My grandfather died of Hodgkin's lymphoma. I really joined the stem cell swab event through Colin and he introduced me to his story and it made me want to help,” said Hayden Lloyd, a Nipissing University nursing student.
There were two other clinics; one Wednesday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Canadore Residence and the other Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Canadore Commerce Court Campus, outside of the cafeteria.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.