#9737 02-24-2007 10:01 AM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 794 | 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--T-2N0M0 SCC dx'd 12/28/05...Hemi-maxillectomy, partial palatectomy, neck dissection 1/4/06....clear margins, neg. nodes....no radiation, no chemo....Cancer-free at 4 years!
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#9738 02-24-2007 03:46 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 | 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
SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun. It's always something "Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it." | | |
#9739 02-24-2007 04:12 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 |
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2 Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#9740 02-24-2007 04:59 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | 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
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#9741 03-04-2007 04:07 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Colleen,
I was told I had to wait 5 years before donating again.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#9742 03-05-2007 04:24 AM | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 108 Gold Member (100+ posts) | Gold Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 108 | I was just told 5 years as well for blood donation. Jim
T3N2aM0 SCC right oral tongue. Partial Glosectomy, Modified Neck disection for 1 Lymph Node. Dec. 2002. 35 IMRT 2003.
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#9743 03-05-2007 07:55 PM | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 39 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 39 | 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.
Laura T T2NOMO Small Salivary Gland Cancer
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#9744 03-06-2007 02:51 AM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 794 | 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?
Colleen--T-2N0M0 SCC dx'd 12/28/05...Hemi-maxillectomy, partial palatectomy, neck dissection 1/4/06....clear margins, neg. nodes....no radiation, no chemo....Cancer-free at 4 years!
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#9745 03-07-2007 01:03 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 | 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
Karen stage 4B (T3N3M0)tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001.Concurrent chemo-radiation treatment ( XRT x 48 /Cisplatin x 4) ended in 12/01. Have been in remission ever since.
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#9746 03-07-2007 08:39 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | 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.
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2 Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#9747 03-10-2007 12:22 PM | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4 Member | Member Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 4 | 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. | | |
#9748 03-12-2007 06:00 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | 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
---------------------- Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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#9749 03-12-2007 05:11 PM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 794 |
Colleen--T-2N0M0 SCC dx'd 12/28/05...Hemi-maxillectomy, partial palatectomy, neck dissection 1/4/06....clear margins, neg. nodes....no radiation, no chemo....Cancer-free at 4 years!
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