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Posted 11/1/2014 2:14 PM (GMT 0)
Anyone here DXed and thinking about donating blood?
Posted 11/1/2014 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
Here's an article that seems to offer an authoritative discussion of that question:

www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/treatmenttypes/bloodproductdonationandtransfusion/blood-product-donation-and-transfusion-blood-donation-by-cancer-survivors

It does seem to say that a person with an active case of cancer is not allowed to donate blood. But it also says that the final decision in such cases is with the doctor at the donor center.

But of course how would they know, if the potential donor does not volunteer that he/she has cancer? I don't suppose donor centers have either the time or facilities to do tests for the presence of cancer in all possible donors.

And other questions arise. What about a donor with cancer donating blood to a person who already has cancer? And surely blood from a man with PCa would do no harm if transfused into the body of a woman?

Interesting topic.
Posted 11/2/2014 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
Personally, I would not. There was a case not long ago where a man recieved an organ transplant from a woman who had endometrial cancer (I think it may have been ovarian). The transplant doc was not aware of the cancer and the man developed cancer that is typically associated with the female sex. Wish my memory was a bit better so I could me more affirmative. But, fact remains that a man developed a female malady.
Posted 11/2/2014 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Due to all my cancers (4 times), I have not been able to give blood for over 15 years. I miss that, as I enjoyed being in the "Gallon" club over the years.
Posted 11/2/2014 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Here's the definitive rule in the U.S. from the FDA, which regulates blood donation eligibility:
You can donate one year after COMPLETING treatment for prostate cancer--surgery, radiation, etcetera.
I've been a clockwork blood donor for over four decades, and only had to take one year off post-prostatectomy.

You will not, however, be able to donate bone marrow. I got the boot from the National Bone Marrow Registry when I was diagnosed with PCa.

Post Edited (Tim G) : 11/1/2014 9:43:54 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 11/2/2014 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Once I was diagnosed, New York blood centers would not allow me to donate until 1 year after I was in 100% remission (which was the date of my surgery, since every PSA during that year was Zero).

My first blood donation after I passed the 1 year mark was a happy day for me. I'm passionate about donating blood.

-Gedman
Posted 11/2/2014 6:00 AM (GMT 0)

My husband was told by the Blood Center in Houston that he had to wait 3 years after his RP surgery.  He just past the 3 year mark with undetectable PSA and will be able to donate. 

Posted 11/2/2014 6:56 AM (GMT 0)

jg2448 said...
My husband was told by the Blood Center in Houston that he had to wait 3 years after his RP surgery. He just past the 3 year mark with undetectable PSA and will be able to donate.

Individual Blood Centers can set their own eligibility requirements that exceed the criteria approved by the FDA:

"Eligibility depends on the type of cancer and treatment history. If you had leukemia or lymphoma, including Hodgkin’s Disease and other cancers of the blood, you are not eligible to donate. Other types of cancer are acceptable if the cancer has been treated successfully and it has been more than 12 months since treatment was completed and there has been no cancer recurrence in this timeLower risk in-situ cancers including squamous or basal cell cancers of the skin that have been completely removed do not require a 12 month waiting period."
Posted 11/2/2014 9:05 AM (GMT 0)
.
I wouldn’t and couldn't I'm a diabetic on Insulin.

see www.diabetes.ca/diabetes-and-you/healthy-living-resources/general-tips/donating-blood
.
Posted 11/2/2014 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
They won't let me donate.

Mal.
Posted 11/2/2014 12:48 PM (GMT 0)
I am on Jalyn (Avodart and Flomax) and the Avodart portion disallows me. It, in any form, is to be kept away from girls and women who could become pregnant as it can cause birth defects.
Posted 11/2/2014 1:25 PM (GMT 0)
I'm coming up on 3 years of 0 PSA readings and 2 years of treatment free and I' thinking about returning to old blood donation schedule. I'll have to check with the Canadian Blood Services for their guide lines.
Posted 11/2/2014 7:48 PM (GMT 0)
I applaud those who donate blood and blood products. My youngest daughter is O negative so she was actually getting harassed by Red Cross to donate. They cut at least in half the time between donations and would constantly call her at university. She had to tell them to stop.

I would worry about passing the cancer along. We are pretty sure in Paul's case the cancer seeded in his bloodstream hence the hundreds of tiny mets in his lungs and elsewhere. We don't know when that happened, if that is going on still (I suspect not based on his PSA) and if and when it will happen again. Because of that, I wouldn't recommend he ever donate again even if cleared for donation, which won't ever happen now anyhow.

Just be careful and cautious, but please still give. A lot is still unknown about transmission of disease through blood donations.
Posted 11/3/2014 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
I will never be allowed to donate blood as I lived in the UK in a farm area often during the mad-cow issues. Disqualifies you for life.

As to not telling, you would be easily convicted of voluntary manslaughter if a recipient picked up and died of any cancer you might have failed to disclose. If they didn't die, it is still aggravated assault or attempted murder depending on the state. Look at the HIV cases these days -
Posted 11/3/2014 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
Thankfully most all cancers can only live in the body where they began. Passing along cancer is not the reason many of can't donate blood, rather it is because of the treatments we have had.
Posted 11/3/2014 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
I had donated my whole life until my dx. The Red Cross still calls me to donate and I tell them every time of my situation and to take me off the registry. I dont think you can donate ? Not one call has told me it's ok to donate after I tell them. They thank me and wish me well. I personally will not donate now, but do encourage others to do so if they are healthy.


Don
Posted 11/3/2014 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
i've heard 3 years and 5 years after, basically, you're in remission...i'll probably try again after 5 years and see what they tell me, but i'm not there yet.
bob
Posted 11/3/2014 9:45 PM (GMT 0)
I have donated blood for the last 3 years. Once you are in the zero club for 3 years you are allowed to donate blood.
Posted 11/4/2014 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
I found this on the Red Cross website which is a good reference. Learned a lot reading it as much has changed since I last donated.

http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical-listing#arc5
Posted 11/18/2014 3:16 PM (GMT 0)

Ed C. (Old67) said...
I have donated blood for the last 3 years. Once you are in the zero club for 3 years you are allowed to donate blood.

Apparently not so here in Canada, once your DXed with any cancer you're automatically disqualified.....too bad, their loss!
Posted 11/18/2014 6:42 PM (GMT 0)
I've been donating for a couple of decades and like a few here I was told 1 year after successful treatment I could donate again which I have been doing for the past 7 years. My take on this is that many of us were donating blood for years before we knew we had cancer and non-diagnosed men are doing so right now.
Posted 11/18/2014 8:15 PM (GMT 0)

Ken S said...
I've been donating for a couple of decades and like a few here I was told 1 year after successful treatment I could donate again which I have been doing for the past 7 years. My take on this is that many of us were donating blood for years before we knew we had cancer and non-diagnosed men are doing so right now.

Prostate cancer is a soft tissue cancer, not a bloodborne cancer like leukemia, so the chances are exceedlingly remote that anyone can get prostate cancer from a blood transfusion. I continue to donate because there is no scientific evidence that I am placing anyone at risk, while at the same time helping those who require blood products. FWIW, only 5% of those eligible to donate blood actually donate. I don't have Bill Gates' money, but I am happy to freely donate blood to those in need. Blood supplies can become critically short during the Christmas and New Year's holidays, during the summer, and any time of year for those who need a less common blood type like mine, B negative. (AB negative is the rarest blood group.)
Posted 11/20/2014 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Evidence suggests donating blood is safe, but theoretically there is still a risk even if your PSA is non-detectable as there are non-PSA producing prostate cancer stem cells which might just be "sleeping". If anyone has cancer stem cells, there is a chance cancer will arise in the future. Cancer tumor cells and stem cells are very different animals, thus there is a theoretical risk of transferring cancer stem cells via blood transfusion. Although whether cancer stem cells can give rise to tumor cells in the receiver of the blood is not clear.
Posted 11/20/2014 11:39 PM (GMT 0)

thunder2004 said...
Evidence suggests donating blood is safe, but theoretically there is still a risk even if your PSA is non-detectable as there are non-PSA producing prostate cancer stem cells which might just be "sleeping". If anyone has cancer stem cells, there is a chance cancer will arise in the future. Cancer tumor cells and stem cells are very different animals, thus there is a theoretical risk of transferring cancer stem cells via blood transfusion. Although whether cancer stem cells can give rise to tumor cells in the receiver of the blood is not clear.

I'm not sure where your source of information came from, but even my own family Dr had no issue with me giving blood....
Posted 11/21/2014 2:38 AM (GMT 0)

FoxRun said...

thunder2004 said...
Evidence suggests donating blood is safe, but theoretically there is still a risk even if your PSA is non-detectable as there are non-PSA producing prostate cancer stem cells which might just be "sleeping". If anyone has cancer stem cells, there is a chance cancer will arise in the future. Cancer tumor cells and stem cells are very different animals, thus there is a theoretical risk of transferring cancer stem cells via blood transfusion. Although whether cancer stem cells can give rise to tumor cells in the receiver of the blood is not clear.

I'm not sure where your source of information came from, but even my own family Dr had no issue with me giving blood....

In the book "Anti Cancer: A New Way of Life" the author mentioned blood transfusion receiver getting Melanoma from a donor whose Melanoma had been in remission for a long time.

I think it is one of those "hit by lightning" type of chances, but it does not mean the risk is non-zero.
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