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Podcasts Take Two
Finding bone marrow matches is harder for some ethnic groups
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Oct 1, 2013
Listen • 4:15
Finding bone marrow matches is harder for some ethnic groups
Bone marrow donations can potentially save the lives of people with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. But it can be difficult finding donors, especially within certain ethnic communities.
Chelsea Kim, a volunteer for Asians Miracle Marrow Matches, talks to Joseph Chiew during the LA Korean Festival about the need for ethnic bone marrow donors.
Chelsea Kim, a volunteer for Asians Miracle Marrow Matches, talks to Joseph Chiew during the LA Korean Festival about the need for ethnic bone marrow donors.
(
Josie Huang/KPCC
)
Dr. Auayporn Nademanee is director of City of Hope’s Matched Unrelated Donor Program.
Dr. Auayporn Nademanee is director of City of Hope’s Matched Unrelated Donor Program.
(
Josie Huang/KPCC
)
Shin Ito, director of Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, listens to one of his outreach coordinators.
Shin Ito, director of Asians for Miracle Marrow Matches, listens to one of his outreach coordinators.
(
Josie Huang/KPCC
)
Christine Pechera was able to beat back non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with the help of a bone marrow donation from a Hong Kong man.
Christine Pechera was able to beat back non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with the help of a bone marrow donation from a Hong Kong man.
(
Josie Huang/KPCC
)

Bone marrow donations can potentially save the lives of people with leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers. But it can be difficult finding donors, especially within certain ethnic communities.

Bone marrow donations can save the lives of some leukemia patients and others suffering from blood cancers. The challenge is finding a donor, and within some ethnic groups, the search is even harder for both scientific and cultural reasons. KPCC's Josie Huang explains.