You can be a blood donor after BC DX

I worked in transfusion services and would urge you to reconsider donating blood.  How many have we seen on these very boards that recur after several years or less - I would not want to receive blood from a donor who has had cancer.  Keep in mind that those who need blood are immune compromised, critically injured, or very frail and/or elderly.  There are plenty of ways to help organizations like the Red Cross, or your local community blood bank, that do not involve donating your blood.  Please donate your time or your money.

I hear your strong desire to help, Kicks. In Alaska there also are places and weather that can limit access to donated blood in time. I donated many times prior to dx. I am 10 years out now and remain NED, and I would donate if there is clear and definite inability to obtain alternative blood for anyone in need.

However, I would have to actually understand the theory and evidence behind the reassurance that it is okay. At the same time, it is also true that there are thousands if not millions of people donating blood who have cancer and simply have not yet been diagnosed.

Does anyone know of any research that would clearly support donation by dx'd patients?

Here on Long Island and also in nearby NJ, where I wanted to donate, I was told I had to be 5 years out from finishing hormonal therapy, and be NED before I could donate.

That is why I think we need to see any actual documented research on the question, to reassure us and give us confidence in donating.... or not.

Otherwise, to be honest I see the risk to be similar to making the decision whether or not to do chemotherapy, while not knowing or at least having any real understanding of what it may or may not do to our genetics and our children's genetics.

Of course we all hope and pray that there are no bc cells remaining in our bodies, but unless there were no options and it was a matter of life & death if one didn't get it, I certainly would not want any of my family members getting blood from anyone who's had cancer in the recent past.  Why in the world are we RX'd Tamox or an A/I and followed for at least 5 years if a recurrence wasn't a concern?

Assuming the rules are by state, I wonder if the sparce population might be impacting SD's guidelines decision?      Deanna   

I can understand how "standards" might say one year after tx and you're good to donate, but how many times have standards been wrong?

I went 7 years getting checked every 6 months with mammo or MRI. I saw three docs within 5 months of my second dx, all did clinical breast exam also and found nothing. My second lump came almost out of nowhere. For me, I feel like it's gone this time for good. But, I could never willingly expose anyone to what I've been through. Like specialk said, it's usually people that are already compromised who are getting blood. I had to have blood last fall after 5 rounds of chemo had knocked me so far down.

I have no family hx, non-smoker, BRCA-, average wt and ht. I can't in good conscience condone donation given two primary stage I breast CA dx. It just doesn't make sense, standards or not.

Wow, I have been an organ donor since getting my license...never thought about whether I might need to reconsider that given the BC. Need to read up on that some more, I guess. I haven't been able to donate blood for a while due to my tattoo addiction! 

I know I will never donate my blood.. I did for years and will not now. Last summer I needed a transfusion and it totally freaked me out... I was out of state and before surgery was trying to find donors who were healthy... I discussed donating my own blood, but couldn't because of chemo and then due to expense of shipping it... For my first surgery, I didn't need the blood so it was recirculated, but then a month later I did need the blood and nothing was in storage for me... so I sure hope that my blood came from a noce young healthy person. So... bottom line, as the recipient, I would not want a BC survivor's blood and so to be responsible, regardless of the Red Cross standards, I will not donate.

Just read the ACS info on organ donation after cancer:

"Some people with cancer may not qualify to be living donors due to their medical condition. (That is, they may not be able to donate a kidney or a lobe of their liver.) But some may still have organs and body tissues that can be used after they pass away.

If you want to donate, it's OK to list yourself as a donor on your driver's license. Be sure that your family knows of your wishes, too, since they may be asked to give consent. If your cancer has been actively spreading, internal organs will not be taken. But if you die after being cancer-free for a long time, your organs may be used. Other tissues, such as skin, tendons, and bone can often be used, too. Careful testing of the organs and tissues is done at the time of death. The decision about which organs or tissues can be safely used is then made by medical professionals, as long your family agrees that you wanted to donate.

Even if other organs and tissues can't be used, donating the corneas from your eyes is one way to offer help to others. Almost all people with cancer (except those with certain blood or eye cancers) can donate their corneas. You can learn more about cornea donation from the Eye Bank Association of America at www.restoresight.org."

So, it sounds like if our drivers' licenses indicate that we are donors, we can keep it that way, and the harvesting doctors would sort it out on their end...

bumping for guineamom