Jolandie

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Robin

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More About FA

What is Fanconi Anaemia?

Fanconi Anaemia (FA) was first described in 1927 by Swiss pediatrician Guido Fanconi, who observed children with bone marrow failure and similar physical features.


While the name honours Dr. Fanconi, we know that FA is a DNA repair disease, meaning the body struggles to fix damage to its DNA, leading to a much higher risk of cancer and bone marrow failure at a young age.


DNA repair means the processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to its DNA molecules.

Fanconi Anaemia (FA) was first described in 1927 by Swiss pediatrician Guido Fanconi, who observed children with bone marrow failure and similar physical features.


While the name honours Dr. Fanconi, we know that FA is a DNA repair disease, meaning the body struggles to fix damage to its DNA, leading to a much higher risk of cancer and bone marrow failure at a young age.


DNA repair means the processes by which a cell identifies and corrects damage to its DNA molecules.

How FA affects the body?

Every day, the cells in our bodies divide and duplicate themselves. During this process, DNA can be damaged by both normal cell activity and environmental factors such as radiation, sunlight, alcohol, tobacco, certain chemicals, and even some foods.


In healthy individuals, cells have repair systems that fix this DNA damage. However, in people with Fanconi Anaemia (FA), the genes responsible for repairing DNA are faulty.


This means their cells struggle to fix damage effectively, causing it to build up over time. As a result, individuals with FA experience complications at a younger age than the general population, all due to the body’s reduced ability to maintain healthy, stable cells.

Every day, the cells in our bodies divide and duplicate themselves. During this process, DNA can be damaged by both normal cell activity and environmental factors such as radiation, sunlight, alcohol, tobacco, certain chemicals, and even some foods.


In healthy individuals, cells have repair systems that fix this DNA damage. However, in people with Fanconi Anaemia (FA), the genes responsible for repairing DNA are faulty.


This means their cells struggle to fix damage effectively, causing it to build up over time. As a result, individuals with FA experience complications at a younger age than the general population, all due to the body’s reduced ability to maintain healthy, stable cells.

This can lead to:

This can lead to:

Bone marrow failure

High cancer risk at a young age

Physical differences or developmental issues

Other organ complications

FA affects both males and females equally and occurs in all ethnic groups.

View or download the All About FA infographic

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English

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Afrikaans

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Zulu

Xhosa

Xhosa

Share this with your family, friends, and healthcare providers for a quick overview of what FA is.