NMDP Receives 5-Year Grant to Help Cancer Survivors

Young Twin Cities Boy Shows There Is Life after Cancer

Ryan Jacobs of Shakopee, Minn., has been a cancer survivor most of his life. When he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia at just five months old, Ryan’s family was told he needed a bone marrow or cord blood transplant to survive.

Doctors tested all members of the Jacobs family to determine if anyone was a possible bone marrow match for Ryan. However, no one was a match. In fact, only 30 percent of bone marrow or cord blood transplant patients ever find a match within their families.

Fortunately, Ryan’s doctor found a cord blood match on the National Marrow Donor Program’s (NMDP) Registry and successfully treated the young boy’s cancer. Although transplant recovery is a slow process and can have significant challenges, Ryan has been in remission for five years.

Finding support for life after cancer

“As a growing number of transplant patients like Ryan live longer, there is a vital need for comprehensive advocacy and resources for the survivor community,” said Beth Murphy, director of the NMDP’s Office of Patient Advocacy.

The NMDP’s Office of Patient Advocacy recently received an esteemed $1.5 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to further provide support, educate and promote the importance and issues surrounding long-term cancer survivorship. With this five-year grant, the NMDP’s Office of Patient Advocacy plans to:

• Expand the NMDP’s existing survivorship programs
• Develop partnerships with other national, patient-focused organizations and resources
• Focus on medically under-served communities
• Increase access to programs and resources to promote and protect survivors’ health

Today, Ryan feels great and just started kindergarten this fall. Although Ryan has survived cancer, his parents continue to volunteer their time to help raise awareness about the need for more donors on the NMDP Registry and to show there is life after cancer.

Learn more

• NMDP's resources and support for patients and families
• How the NMDP connects patients with donors