Can I donate blood?

Rrobin0200

hi all,

Bilateral MX due to DCIS on 3/31. Reconstruction followed same day. Developed mild lymphedema to right shoulder/underarm/arm approximately 2 weeks later. Have been seen by OT/PT 3x/week, and have been discharged as of 2 weeks ago. Can I donate blood? Which arm shall be poked?

MinusTwo

rrobin - personally I would not recommend it. But you should ask your BS or PS.

If you had SNB & a BMX, you will always be at risk for lymphadema. And you can't go backwards so I take precautions. I have blood drawn from my foot. Interestingly enough, the only facility that will do that i the Blood Donor lab.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/

GraceB1

According to the Red Cross web site you can donate blood 12 months after treatment is completed and you are NED. Always try to use the non surgical side for any kind of blood draw or blood pressure checks.

Kicks

I donate blood as often their protocohol allows for donation - just got a text the other day reminding me it was time. According to where I donate, for those with a DX of breast cancer you have to be 2 yrs post TX (does not include HT as it is not TX.). There are some cancer that can never donate.

I had a UMX and do deal with LE so I use my non-surgery, non-LE arm.

Added: you have to also meet all their other perimaters that everyone has to to donate.

Rrobin0200

Thank you everyone for your quick responses. If I had a BMX, then which arm is considered my "non surgical" arm? I'm guessing left (even though the left breast was the one with dcis) bc the right arm was affected with LE? I'm so confused.

But to play it safe, I won't donate right now. Bummer. I always like to pay it forward.

Kicks

If you just had surgery in March, 2017 according to where I donate (United Blood Services), you couldn't donate until at least March, 2019. If you do Chemo or rads that would add on a longer time frame before being able to donate according to what I've been told.

NotVeryBrave

I also had a BMX, but the cancer was only on the L side and that's where the lymph nodes were removed. I was told to not use that arm for BP's, IV's, or blood draws. A recent hospital stay had them doing all three in the R side. Not fun.

I'm not sure what they would do with you if lymph nodes were out of one side and LE is affecting the other ..

SummerAngel

I had bilateral BC so I had lymph nodes removed from both sides. I no longer donate blood. I was told that the longer a needle needs to remain in my vein the higher the risk of causing lymphedema.