Fifty-six-year-old Janice St Louis from London is encouraging anyone from a black and black mixed-race background to consider joining the stem cell register after receiving a shocking diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia in January 2023.
First seeking treatment from her GP for what she believed was a bad case of the flu, Janice’s symptoms showed no signs of going away after five weeks so she went to A&E. After some blood tests, she received the devastating news that she has blood cancer and, shockingly, a stem cell transplant is the only treatment that could offer her a second chance at life.
Janice, of Black British Caribbean descent, is appealing to people from the black community to consider registering to become stem cell donors. Just 37% of transplant recipients from minority ethnic backgrounds receive the best stem cell donor from an unrelated donor – this compares to 72% of patients from white Northern European backgrounds. Janice has Grenadian heritage and it’s likely that the ideal donor would have similar genetics.
Despite being clinically vulnerable and in isolation at Hammersmith Hospital for over five weeks, Janice remains optimistic, saying her diagnosis is just a “temporary inconvenience”.
Janice said: “I have to focus on bigger things – my family, my friends, my life. I am a happy-go-lucky kind of person, and I will not let this get me down. I believe that keeping a positive outlook on things can help make you feel healthy.”
She continues: “I’m going to do what I can for myself, but I want to do what I can for other people as well. Even after this experience, I am going to continue to raise awareness of leukaemia and the need for donors!”
As a keen fan of outdoor pursuits, including cycling, power walking and dancing, Janice is sad to not be able to fundraise and promote Anthony Nolan’s cause. She said: “If I was well, I would be out there fundraising and taking part in any activities I could to raise awareness for the charity.”
If you are interested in finding out about how to join the stem cell register click here
