Cord Blood Banking – Myths Busted

Although, cord blood banking is fast gaining acceptability among the shared masses, there are certain misconceptions lurking in the minds of people. Here are certain shared myths that have been busted to bring out the real picture to you.

Myth 1: Doctors dont treat a patient with his or her own sample of cord blood, as it would contain some disease.

Fact : A large number of autologous stem cell transplants (that use patients own cells) are carried out every year to treat disease like leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma, and other substantial tumors. A research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology states that a patients own stem cells are the best choice for transplantation, already if there is an early-onset disease.

Study has proved that autologous transplants on infants experiencing from harsh leukemia were as successful as allogenic ones. The former has an advantage that there is no risk of graft vs. great number disease, which is the major cause of death among transplant patients; is freely obtainable; and there is low risk of contamination of cells. In April, 2001, doctors in Canada performed the first ever autologous transplant on a 10-month-old baby for treating retinoblastoma, a kind of eye cancer, which had reached his spinal cord.

Myth 2 : if your family doesnt have a record of cancer, your baby or sibling wont ever require stem cells.

Fact : Families go for cord blood preservation as a sort of insurance for future need for their child or family member. Most of the cancers are nevertheless a mystery and the bad news is that they are spreading at an upsetting rate. The latest study discloses the horrifying fact that one in every 630 children is inclined to cancer by the age of 15. Hence, it is always a good idea to opt for cord blood banking. You never know when you need it to save the life of your child.

Myth 3 : Cord blood collection draws basic blood from the baby.

Fact: Not at all. Stem cell cord blood is present in umbilical cord, which is anyways thrown out after delivery. The umbilical cord is clamped and cut, and thereafter, the blood is drawn out from it.

Myth 4: You can offer donation to a public cord blood bank and regain the stem cells in the future, if needed.

Fact : Only if the cord blood sample is banked and not been used for research purpose or for some other patient, a family might regain their donated blood sample. It is important to know that not all donated cord blood samples are banked. Numerous study reports show that more than 50 per cent of the possible donors are not eligible to donate cord blood. Around 71 per cent of donations are inclined to rejection by the edges based on factors like family medical record, quantity of collection, and blood sample examination of the mother.