This Machine Killed Cancer

I meant to mention this in the last post, but there are two important and free (yay!) ways you can help out Shayne and other folks going through this process.

1. There’s currently and as if often the case, a severe shortage of platelets at UNC. Platelets can only be stored for 5 days (versus 42 days for blood) so they always need folks to donate. Shayne hasn’t needed them the past couple of days, but he’s needed them often enough and lots of other patients on 4 ONC need them all of the time.

The process is pretty painless and usually takes about 2 hours. As an added bonus, they give you snacks, juice, and you can watch a movie.

To donate at UNC you can set up an appointment by calling 919-966-2370 or email platelet@unch.unc.edu

I can’t figure out how to donate at Duke, but if you call the main hospital at 919-684-8111 and they’ll point you in the right direction.

2. There’s now a pretty good chance that Shayne is going to need a donor bone marrow transplant. You can join the “Be the Match” program by going here: http://www.marrow.org  Then click on the tab that says “Join the Registry” and follow the instructions.

To register, it’s just filling out a form and doing a cheek swab. If it turns out you’re a match, then the donation process is typically no more invasive than a blood draw. “Be the Match” explains all of this on their site.