Be informed Why are male donors preferred over female donors for stem cell transplants?
August 1, 2026 Word for Word Media
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Dr Lucille Sarah Singh answers the question of why male donors are preferred over female donors for stem cell transplants.

Let’s get started by stating upfront that  this has nothing to do with misogyny. The reasons are all tied up in biology and, more specifically, the remarkable changes that occur in a woman’s immune system when she becomes pregnant.  Haematopoietic stem cells (harvested from the blood or bone marrow of donors) may carry with them antibody-producing immune cells which could cause short- and long-term complications after a transplant. Women who have been pregnant at any point in…

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Be informed The infamous cancer ribbon
February 3, 2026 Word for Word Media
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Have you ever wondered where the cancer ribbon originated? Nadia Booysen shares her research.

Short on time? Listen to the audio version of this article here, or by using your favourite podcast player

It all started in the early mid-1900s, when the yellow ribbon was originally used in a United States military marching song, Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree. This was inspired by the wife of a hostage held in Iran from 1979-1981. She used the yellow ribbon to show support for hostages and to remind others of…

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Be informed Can cancer survivors be organ donors?
August 4, 2025 Word for Word Media
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Megan Atcheson and Dr Andrew Robson educate us on organ donation, blood donation, and donating your body to science if you have a history of cancer.

Organ donation is a powerful, life-saving gift that can transform the lives of recipients. But for cancer survivors, the question of eligibility becomes more complex. While a history of cancer doesn’t automatically rule you out, several important factors determine whether you can donate organs or tissue. The main concern is the potential risk of transmitting cancer to the recipient. Different cancers carry different levels of risk. For example, survivors of low-risk, localised…

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