Many potential parents are faced with this question :"Do I need to store my child's cord blood for future use, so that in the event of say he has leukaemia, the cord blood transplant would be useful for him?"
Advances in treatment of cancer, especially childhood blood cancer has improved tremendously over the years. Some of these cancer can have almost 100% cure rate now. This is helped by cord blood transplant.
It is certainly useful to store the cord blood. The issue is whether to store it in the public bank (which is free) or private bank (which you would need to pay quite a large sum of money).
Advantage of public banks are:
1. Free for parents
2. The cord blood can be used for other children who needs it, if it matches your child
3. You may have access to another child's cord blood (if matches), which maybe better than using his own cord blood, for transplantation. Some doctors believe that if your child has leukaemia, even after treatment and transplant with his own cord blood, there is a risk of leukaemia relapse.
Advantage of private banks are:
1. You are assured of the cord blood when you need them, as it would not be given to other parents.
In Singapore, there is a public cord blood bank called "Singapore Cord Blood Bank" and the private ones are like "Stemcord" and "Cordlife".
If you are a parent who is going to have a newborn child, if you have not decided which to opt, at least opt for the private cord blood bank as it is free and your child's cord blood maybe able to save another child one day. The collection of the cord blood is from the cord and there is no pain or complication during the collection process.
2 comments:
Very interesting post. On my OB/Gyn rotation this year we had several people who wanted to capture the cord blood when they delivered. Some had chosen private, others public, but all whom I spoke with purchased an expensive kit to capture the blood. Do you know of cheaper alternatives for cord blood capture?
Also, I'll be interested to follow along on your blog. One day, I will likewise be treating patients with cancer, but for now one day at a time! I post about many things, but cancer certainly plays a big role and will be increasing in future months/years. You can check out my blog at http://playingnicelyinthesandbox.blogspot.com/
Hi Doc Chef, you have a nice blog too. Hope you will be a successful doctor one day.
I am not too sure about the kind of kit they have to collect cord blood in your country. But the one we have here in Singapore is provided by the cord blood bank itself, both the public and private banks.
Post a Comment