Thalassemia: Sister plays saviour, 26-year-old cured

Bengaluru: Suffering from Thalassemia major since birth, Saket, 26, from Jaipur is now finally cured of the disease thanks to his sister who donated her bone marrow. The transplantation was done at the Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre, Narayana Health City in Bengaluru.

“Bone marrow transplant is the only potential cure for this dreaded disease and fortunately Saket’s sister was a matching donor and proved to be his saviour. Because of his advanced age and the risk involved, we took special precautions during the transplant process. Now over seven months have passed  and he is cured of the disease," said Dr Sunil Bhat, head, paediatric haematology, oncology and bone marrow transplantation at the Mazumdar Shaw Cancer Centre.

Saket's case gives hope to older Thalassemia patients in their adolescence and youth for a cure with a bone marrow transplant, according to him.

“ The transplants are usually done between related donors (siblings), matched unrelated donors (non-family members) or Haplo-identical donors (parents)," he explained.

Sharing his experience in fighting the disease, a much relieved Saket said, "I am grateful that I have been given a new lease of life.

Earlier I had to go through blood transfusion every three to four weeks, but with advancement in technology and medicine, I am completely cured after undergoing the BMT procedure. I cannot thank my sister enough as she has given me a new life by donating her bone marrow."

In patients suffering from Thalassemia  red blood cell production is lesser than their destruction. If left untreated more than 90 per cent die by age of two.

Those who survive need life-long blood transfusion every three to four weeks.
Over a period of time, this can result in overload of iron in the blood, affecting the liver and heart and eventually causing death.