Lübeck Man with Leukemia Needs Stem Cell Donor

Andreas Quast, a 61-year-traditional resident of Lübeck, Germany, is urgently seeking a stem cell donor to combat an aggressive form of leukemia. Despite his serious illness, Quast maintains a positive outlook, approaching his battle with humor and resilience.

Diagnosis and Treatment

In December, Quast was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), an aggressive cancer of the bone marrow MSN. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy, but acknowledges that his body can only tolerate a limited number of cycles. He previously experienced a near-fatal bout of blood poisoning following his diagnosis.

The Urgency of a Stem Cell Donation

Quast emphasizes the critical need for a stem cell donation, stating that without a suitable donor, his prognosis is dire. “As long as I don’t find a suitable donor, I’m a walking dead person,” he said MSN.

DKMS and the Search for a Match

The German bone marrow donor registry, DKMS, is actively searching for a compatible donor for Quast. Finding a match requires a person with similar tissue characteristics – essentially a genetic twin – to be registered with a donor registry worldwide. According to DKMS, the probability of finding a suitable donor is around 90 percent for patients in Germany MSN.

Registration Campaign in Lübeck

A large-scale registration campaign, aiming to register 1000 potential donors, is scheduled for March 22nd, from 12 p.m. To 4 p.m. At the Malteser Hilfedienst, Josephinenstraße 27, in Lübeck lomazoma.com. This campaign is being organized by Quast’s wife, Tanja, in an effort to raise awareness and expand the donor pool.

How to Become a Stem Cell Donor

Healthy individuals between the ages of 17 and 55 can register to become stem cell donors. The process involves a simple cheek swab to determine tissue characteristics. Stem cell donation can occur through peripheral stem cell collection (from the blood) or, less commonly, through bone marrow removal.

A Message of Hope

Despite the challenges, Andreas Quast remains optimistic. “We are not giving up,” he stated lomazoma.com. “There is only plan A – and win.”