What is Sickle Cell?
Sickle cell is a genetic condition that affects the haemoglobin in the red blood cells. The type of haemoglobin you have is inherited from your parents. The ‘normal’, most common haemoglobin is A (HbA) but some people inherit unusual haemoglobins, for example the Sickle haemoglobin ‘S’ (HbS).
In a person without Sickle Cell the red blood cells are round like a full moon. However a person with Sickle Cell will have red blood cells that are sickle shaped – rather like a half moon. sickle cells have difficulty travelling around the body and get stuck in the joints; this is called a sickle cell ‘crisis’. It’s like a traffic jam; the cells get stuck which causes chronic pain, starting in the area where the crisis is occurring and spreading all over the body.
"When you’re having a crisis it’s one of those pains you can’t describe. Some sicklers describe it like a hammer beating down on your limbs. The other day when I had a crisis I described it as a saw, someone just sawing at my knee."
Nordia James, diagnosed with Sickle Cell at six years old.
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