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Many parents are still largely unaware of the benefits provided by cord blood banking. As such, there are plenty of myths that persist among expecting parents about the safety of cord blood banking and general facts about the process. Here are a few of the most common myths about cord blood banking, and some facts to dispel them.
One myth that parents believe concerns autologous transplants, in which the donor receives his or her own stem cells. Some believe that an ill child’s own stem cells would contain the disease, and that doctors would not treat someone using this method. However, dozens of autologous transplants are performed every year, treating children with a wide range of conditions like myeloma and lymphoma. Autologous transplants are not recommended for patients with leukemia but a cord blood unit from a matched sibling would be the best option.
It is also believed that the chances of a single family member ever needing a stem cell transplant are so low that there would be no point in banking cord blood. Since cord blood can treat over 75 different diseases today. As researchers discover more uses for cord blood, including the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Cerebral Palsy, the chances of a family member benefiting from a stem cell transplant (by age 70) may be 1 in 200.