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Iditarod musher Susan Butcher has been diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. About 11,920 new cases of acute myelogenous leukemia are diagnosed each year in the United States. Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) may be called by several names, including: acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myeloblastic leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia or acute nonlymphocytic leukemia.

Susan & her family are in Seattle for an extended stay where she'll be receiving treatment. She's going to need a bone marrow transplant. 75% of patients needing a stem cell transplant usually do not have a suitable donor in their family and need an unrelated bone marrow donor. Anyone who'd be willing to do so is being asked to get a blood test and a possible blood donation if there is a match.

How to Become a Bone Marrow Donor -It just takes a small vial of blood for you to be typed as a bone marrow donor. There are many patients who are desperately waiting to find a donor match. You may be able to save someone’s life. There are donor registry sites throughout the country.

The number to call from Alaska is 1-800-DONATE-1 then dial extension 1897, that puts you through to Seattle. They then have to send you a registration form that is 8 pages long. You send that back in and they screen it. Once you pass the screening, they send the collection kit back with instructions on how to get your sample collected

To find the one closest to you contact either: The American Bone Marrow Donor Registry 1-800-736-6283 The National Marrow Donor Program 1-800-654-1247

Visit www.leukemia-lymphoma.org for more information.

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