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DKMS India hosts fireside chat with experts to raise awareness about blood cancer and the need for more stem cell donors
Hyderabad, October 7, 2025 – Vizag-based software engineer Satish Reddy achieved a rare feat by donating his stem cells twice through DKMS Foundation India, giving two different patients battling blood cancer a second chance at life. He was felicitated at a special event in Hyderabad, where DKMS Foundation India also hosted a fireside chat to highlight the urgent need for more stem cell donors in India.
Satish first registered as a potential donor in July 2016 during a local event. Five years later, in June 2021, he was matched with a blood cancer patient in India and donated his stem cells, helping the patient recover. In 2023, he met his recipient in Ahmedabad during a donor–patient meeting, a deeply emotional experience that underscored the life-saving impact of donation. In a rare occurrence, Satish was matched again with a different patient in September 2024 and went on to donate his stem cells for the second time in January 2025.
Reflecting on his journey, Satish Reddy said, “Donating stem cells is a small act that can create a huge impact. I was genuinely surprised when I received the call that I was a match for another patient. With the support of my parents, I donated for the second time and would be happy to do it again. There’s no greater reward than knowing you have helped save a life, and meeting the recipient and seeing them well makes everything worthwhile.”
DKMS Foundation India, a non-profit organisation dedicated to fighting blood cancer and other blood disorders such as thalassemia and aplastic anaemia, hosted a fireside chat with blood cancer specialist Dr. S.K. Gupta and DKMS India Executive Chairman Patrick Paul. The engaging discussion highlighted the urgent need for more stem cell donors in India, emphasizing how each registration can give patients battling blood cancer a second chance at life, while also raising awareness about the life-saving impact of altruistic blood stem cell donation.
Dr. S.K. Gupta, HOD – Clinical Hematologist, Hemato-Oncologist, and BMT Specialist at Continental Hospitals, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, spoke on “Blood Cancer Incidence in India: Challenges and the Road Ahead”, focusing on early detection, treatment, and ongoing challenges faced by patients in India. Dr. Gupta said, “Awareness is the first step in the fight against blood cancer. India ranks third globally in blood cancer cases, after the US and China, with over 100,000 people diagnosed each year. Stem cell transplants are a proven, life-saving treatment, yet many patients and families hesitate due to myths or misconceptions. Every year, more than 70,000 people in India lose their lives to blood cancer, but a registered stem cell donor can make the difference between life and death. Early detection, timely treatment, and expanding access to stem cell transplants are critical to improving outcomes. I urge all eligible individuals to register and help give patients a second chance at life.”
Patrick Paul, Executive Chairman, DKMS in India, discussed how DKMS addressed India’s blood stem cell donor gap, highlighting initiatives to expand the donor registry and improve access to life-saving treatments. He shared, “The registered blood stem cell donor number is insufficient in India. Currently, only 0.09% of the Indian population of relevant age is registered as blood stem cell donors. Every five minutes, someone in India is diagnosed with blood cancer, and over 10,000 children are born with thalassemia major every year. Therefore, there is an urgent need to adopt better methodologies to increase donor registrations.”
He further added, “From Telangana, 6,500 people have registered as potential donors, with 3,500 from Hyderabad. Registrations are strongest among young people: in the 18–25 age group, women make up 50% and men 36%, while in the 26–40 age bracket, men lead at 54% and women 42%. Even in the 41–55 age range, though smaller, 10% of men and 8% of women are registering. Every donor registered is a potential lifesaver, and we work to increase the possibility so that every patient in need finds a matching donor.”
Following the fireside chat, DKMS Foundation India felicitated three generous blood stem cell donors, including Satish Reddy. While donating stem cells is a profound act of generosity for many, Satish’s decision to donate twice is a rare and extraordinary gesture. He approached it simply as his duty, yet his quiet, selfless altruism gave two strangers a second chance at life, asking for nothing in return.
To register as a potential stem cell donor, you must be a healthy Indian adult between 18 and 55. When you are ready to register, all you need to do is complete a consent form and swab the inside of your cheeks to collect your tissue cells. Your tissue sample is then sent to the lab to be analysed for your HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) and listed anonymously on the international search platform for matching stem cell donors. If you’re eligible, register as a blood stem cell donor by ordering your home swab kit at www.dkms-india.org/register
