Sisters Marionette Venter (left) and oncology manager at Medipost Pharmacy Amanda Busch (right) are pictured recently, years after Amanda’s lifesaving bone marrow transplant from Marionette’s donated stem cells.
In a heartfelt testament to the power of family and community, Amanda Busch, an oncology pharmacist and mother of two, shared her inspiring journey of battling leukaemia and the lifesaving stem cell donation from her sister that turned her life around.
Amanda, who is currently in remission, reflects on her diagnosis and the incredible support she received during her fight against cancer.
It was the day before Father's Day in 2010 when Amanda received the life-altering news. After seeking treatment for referred shoulder pain, her general practitioner ran some tests that revealed chronic myeloid leukaemia.
“I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia when my general practitioner ran some tests after I sought treatment for referred shoulder pain,” Amanda recalled.
The irony was not lost on her; as an oncology manager at Medipost Pharmacy, she had spent years dispensing the very medications she would soon need herself. As her condition progressed, Amanda found herself in a race against time.
“I was placed on first-line treatment, which can help manage the cancer for years, but there are only a handful of medications that can treat this type of cancer. When I fell pregnant unexpectedly, I had to pause the treatment and use an injectable pregnancy-safe medication instead until my baby was born,” she explained.
The challenges of managing her health while preparing for motherhood were daunting, but Amanda remained determined to fight.
The doctors advised Amanda to start looking for possible matches for a bone marrow transplant, which they deemed her best option for beating the cancer.
“They warned us it can be a very long process to find someone who is genetically similar enough to provide a feasible tissue match,” she said.
With the odds stacked against her, Amanda was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends and community members who volunteered to be tested as potential bone marrow donors.
“Only one person in 100,000 on average could be a suitable match outside your biological relatives, so I thank my lucky stars that I have an amazing sister who was an almost perfect match and was so generous in her support and willingness to make this lifesaving stem cell donation to me,” Amanda expressed with gratitude.
Her sister's selflessness not only provided Amanda with a second chance at life but also highlighted the importance of community involvement in the fight against cancer.
The process of donation is intricate;
it often involves the matching donor taking medication to increase their production of the right kind of stem cells, which are then drawn from the donor in a procedure similar to donating blood. With South Africa's unique demographics, there is a pressing need to grow the local registry of stem cell donors from various ethnic groups across the country.
“Although the chance of being a match for a stranger in need of a lifesaving transfusion is small, there are children, mothers, and fathers praying to find a genetically similar tissue match from a donor who can give them the same chance at life I had,” Amanda said.
Amanda's bone marrow transplant procedure took place at the haematology unit of Netcare Pretoria East Hospital, where she had to remain in isolation for 16 days to protect against infection.
“To help the recipient's body accept the stem cells from the donor, before the transplant, the recipient needs to have an intense course of specialised chemotherapy to suppress their immune system,” she explained.
Thankfully, Amanda experienced only mild side effects and began her path to recovery, leading her to be in remission for over seven years now.
“I have so much to be grateful for,” she said, reflecting on her journey.
Amanda believes that raising awareness about blood cancers and the power individuals hold to help save lives is crucial for improving survival rates.
“It takes more than a village to find a potentially lifesaving matching donor; it takes a nation. I would like to encourage all caring South Africans to consider registering to become donors – the gift of life is yours to offer,” she urges.
Through her experience, Amanda Busch not only overcame her battle with leukaemia but also emerged as a passionate advocate for stem cell donation, inspiring others to join the fight against cancer and make a difference in the lives of those in need.
Weekend Argus
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