I've got a rather odd question that I've been mulling over for awhile. After undergoing cancer treatment with radiation and chemotherapy, are we then excluded from donating blood because of it?

Of course, I realize this is probably the least of things we need to worry about, but last week a blood donation letter arrived at my house and it made me wonder if for the rest of my life I would be kicked out of the local blood drives because I had chemo and radiation.

Not only blood donation, but as prior cancer patients are we unable to be organ donors as well?

Hoping one of you has the answers. It's not that I'm upset by being excluded, just curious.

Jen

Jen, I am mad as a wet hen that the Red Cross, for which I have been a donor for years and years and years, will NEVER take my blood again. Get cancer? You become an untouchable to them forever.

Have no idea about organ donation. My driver's license indicates that I am to be parted out, and I figure I will just let others worry about that when the time comes.

When Rod went to get a new license, he was told he could no longer be a donor.

I was also told that I couldn't be a blood donor. One of my son's friends, 16 years old, is fighting cancer. He is in constant need of blood transfusions. I asked about donating blood and was told that I could not.

I'm also an organ donor. I never put much thought into that aspect of it until I read Joanna's post.

John

I kinda figured that & didn't sign up. Not only am I all post cancer but I'm Hypothyroid to boot. I'd hate to make some ill kid more sick on my blood.

You should NOT be ineligible to donate forever. I think the usual period is 5 years (at least that was what I was told). I have given blood to the Red Cross in recent years -- after full disclosure of my medical history. However, the last time I tried to give, I was bounced because I didn't have quite enough iron in my blood -- they said it wasn't truly anemia, but it didn't meet the minimum amount they said they have to have. I'll keep trying, though...

Cathy

You all may wish to inquire again. I was called to be reminded that it was time to donate a week or so after I began my treatment. Upon saying that I guessed I would never be allowed to donate again, I was told that I could, after being "clean" for 5 years.

Here is the actual information, direct from the Red Cross website:

" Cancer
Eligibility depends on the type of cancer and treatment history. If you had leukemia or lymphoma, including Hodgkin

Good information...We are tainted, indeed. My blood probably glows in the dark.
Darrell

That is encouraging that they don't restrict you forever. I have always had a problem with giving blood anyway because of the iron thing (I'm usually not quite high enough although not anemic--that seems to be my natural state), so I don't know why it bothers me so much that now that I've had cancer I can't give but it does. I think it is that idea of being "tainted" actually.

Hot diggity! Thank you Cathy and Bill. The folks who run the drives in my town are not necessarily the cream of the crop, so in another year I will print out the info from the web site, get a note from the doc, and roll up my sleeve. The motive in donating was never entirely altruistic, but in part the competition between me and other donors as to who could give a pint in the least time. My record was 4:56 before I was banned. I am easily amused (grin).

There is not doubt that everyone here, at this site, are benevolent and highly giving individuals. Why else post? I just don't see the benefit from giving blood. Back in the old days I was a member of the "Gallon" clubs, but no more. I am no expert, but why risk it? I'm sure, if there is a 5 year wait, it has been fairly well researched, but why take the chance with some unknown persons life? I don't much enjoy having this disease and the thought of, however well intentioned, passing it on is very disturbing to me. Maybe you should consider organizing some local blood drives, that would have a positive impact on the blood supply and your personal need to do good for others.

Just another one of my myopic thoughts!

I once asked two doctors about organ donation and they gave me the same answer that I am not eligible for donating any organ, not even if it is in good shape. One doctor told me they may consider those organs from brain cancer patients but not others. She gave the reasons but they are too complicated for me to explain here. Rather discouraging since I really wished before I had cancer to donate my organs when I die.

Karen

You have a very good point, Glenn. I was upset at being summarily excluded from something that had been a part of my life for decades. Upon serious consideration, I will now just forget it. Thanks for providing a different perspective.

I totally agree with Glenn's point. Additionally, if I ever need blood, I would not want it to come from someone who has had cancer or any other disease that my supressed immune system might not be able to handle. Let's keep ours out of the general system and donate only when our rare blood type is the last pint available to save a dying patient's life.

Eileen

Thanks be to all of you. Sometimes I come up with what I think is a "stupid" question and debate whether or not I'm going to ask it.

When I saw the blood donation letter arrive at my house last week, again I wondered. It's good to know though if I can make it five years "clean" I might be considered a normal person again.

Now all I have to do is concentrate on getting more meat on my scrawny self. Guess organ donation is out of the question.

Jen

Hey Guys
Don`t feel bad , I have been giving blood and platelets for years until I was " banned " because I had been to the UK and might transfer Mad Cow disease. Now I know a few "Mad Cows" but I don`t think any of them are diseased!
Cheers
Marica

This will likely just drop into the abyss, but there is little doubt in my mind that it could also turn into yet another PEG or no PEG topic.

Just to point counter point Mr. Glenn, I will return to giving if at all possible. I am of the belief that generally when someone needs blood it is to save their life, right then. I do not think that it is given to folks just because they request it.

I'll give that someone a chance to live a bit longer thank you. Getting out of bed is a chance we take every day. I'll take the chance that my blood will extend someones life, even if but for another day, week or month. They just happen to be someones loved one, as I am and all of you are.

Bill
(with an oposing view)

Bill,

Abyss? I doubt that!

I think you would find that blood, for the purpose of a life threatening trauma or surgery, would always be readily available. If the fact that your ability to give blood provides you with a sense of "having beaten this disease" more power to you. If that person dies from YOUR strain of cancer then that is a moral decision you will have to live with. Me, I don't get it. You would risk infecting someone with cancer?...........I still don't get it. I think I'll go to my books, but in NY, I sure hope that would be a crime! I believe it is an issue with other blood borne illnesses.

Glenn

I have one of those blood types that seems to be fairly rare, and I've been inclined to try to give when I find out that it's in particularly short supply. At this point, I've been cancer-free for nearly 17 years, and I know that if I pass the initial Red Cross screenings to give it, they do further testing beyond that point to see if they find any other problems with it. As I look around at many of the people I know in my age group (mid-50's), I seem to be as healthy as most of them -- if not more so -- so I don't feel guilty if I pass the up-front screening process and they have my blood to work with and see if it's worth using. In light of all the things that can disqualify people these days (such as travel to countries where mad cow might exist, family health histories, etc.), there are fewer and fewer people who are eligible to donate blood at all, so the supply is not really plentiful for all types all the time.

Cathy

Same with me, Cathy. The RC used to send a car to my office when they needed me. Once I gave a direct donation in an ER. Maybe I will reevaluate after 17 years. But wait -- then I will be disqualified by age. Guess I will just serve the juice and cookies from now on.

Jen,

I had been donating blood for almost 40 years when I found out that I could no longer give. I was told about the 5 year waiting period after showing up for a blood drive late last year. I had been told on the phone, by an uninformed Red Cross Worker, that I could give as long as I had no open sores.

Fortunately, the nurse at the drive knew better and called their physician to check things out. I was told that no matter what type of cancer you had, the waiting period is 5 years. Squamous cell is not an exception.

As far as the future is concerned for me, I'll be 64 by the time my waiting period is over and I pray that I will still be cancer free and
not ineligble to give for other reasons. I don't know the age limit for giving.

My feeling is that if the Red Cross is willing to take my blood after 5 years and they feel confident that it will not put the recipient at risk, I will give.

Jerry

I have to agree with Glenn. They can't possibly screen for everything and an undetectable, less than 2mm tumor, could be passing cancer cells into the blood. I have seen many FDA warning letters in the past to the Red Cross for inadequate screening and a variety of other issues (as well as many other local hospital blood banks, tissue gathering companies, etc.). I am not condemning the ARC, they work very hard at their integtrity. It must always be remembered that this is a medical ART not a SCIENCE - why subject someone to a potentially unknown variable when you KNOW you have or had a life threatening disease that has a high potential for being blood born.

There are also 5 million unDx'd people running around the US today with Hep C.

There are plenty of healthy people out there that can donate blood - let them step up.

By the way, just a little off topic - don't go to the FDA warning letter section and search for fish - you'll never eat it again.