I would presume that we cancer survivors are excluded from donating blood and organs, but I would like to know for sure. I am a strong believer in organ donation, and I will be disappointed if I can no longer consider myself a potential donor.

Colleen,
While at the hospital a couple of years ago, I came upon an organ donor drive and asked them that question. I was told that absolutely no organ donations or blood donations would be accepted until I had been cancer free for five years, and that as a Stage IV survivor I would likely continue to be rejected as an organ donor.
That was just one man's opinion, and I'll ask again when I hit five years. I haven't had a second opinion on the organ donations, but LifeSource, the local bloodmobile operators, have taken me off of their donors list.

Good Health,

Chuck

No

I went to check at a blood donation site about 4 years ago (at that point I had been cancer-free for about 14 years). Because I was well past the 5-year point, they accepted me into the normal screening process and allowed me to give blood, once I had passed all the other criteria.

Cathy

Colleen,

I was told I had to wait 5 years before donating again.

Jerry

I was just told 5 years as well for blood donation.

Jim

Im a strong supporter in organ donation since someday, my daughter may be needing lung and/or liver transplant to survive longer with her disease cystic fibrosis. I had always planned on donating one of my lungs to her if I was a match and if necessary....guess I won't be concidered now.

I wonder if the five-year rule applies to organ donation as well as blood. I can see why there might be a different rule applied. You surely do not want to give someone in such dire straights cancer on top of their other problems. After a time, however, the chances of metastatic cancer developing as a result of our oral cancer should be eliminated, and our chances of passing cancer to someone else througha transplant should be no more than that of anyone else.

Perhaps after five years you could be considered as a donor, Laura. Does anyone out there know for sure?

I asked my oncologist the same question and to my disappointment, in Hong Kong, blood or organ donation of cancer survivors is strictly rejected, regardless of the stage of cancer or length of recovery.

Karen

This is strictly just my own personal opinion here but I don't think I would want any body parts, organs or blood products from anyone who had cancer. I don't care how long they have been cancer free - there are no guarantees. Of course there are no guarantees that "normal" donors don't have an undetected disease either - except for ones that are specifically screened for, typically blood borne, like hepatitus C, for example).

I really also believe that the five year number was made up to make us feel better, maybe there are some statistics involved here but there have been more than a few here having recurrences or second bouts after the 5 year "totally cured" number. Am I going to finally have my mind at rest in 10 months when I have 5 years cancer free - NOT.

I agree with the doctors in Hong Kong.

Hello,

I looked into this a few years ago, and the Red Cross rep told me they changed their rules and now did allow blood donations from cancer survivors. Somehow I haven't done it though. I think part of me still fears something - from all those years I believed I could not donate.

I was told, during the stricter years, that a cornea was outside of the limits - so I could donate that if I wanted to.

I guess it's up to the blood organization and the individual giving. How many folks have latent cancer (cancer can be latent up to 20 years) and give blood? There's such a blood shortage oftentimes. Tough issue.

Great thought, though. Whatever you decide, there's much volunteer work and other ways you can give of yourself.

Take care,

Cathy V.

I totally agree with Gary on this. As an organ or blood recipient, I don't think one needs to have to worry about whether the donor has had cancer along with all the other things they have to worry about. I think a better way to help, if you really want to, is convince a healthy friend or family member who otherwise would not have donated, to donate in place of you.

Take care,
Eileen

Great idea!