Donating Blood

SusanAnne

I had always been a regular blood donor up until my breast cancer dx. I have gotten conflicting information regarding my eligibility as a donor since having chemo and Herceptin. Today I went to a blood center (NY) since it's a year that I finished the Herceptin and they turned me down. I must wait another year. Anyone else have experience with donating after treatment?

Susan

krisrey

Hi Susan,
I have not donated blood but I tried to see if I could get tested for a much needed match for someone I know that just got dx with Leukemia. Unfortunatly nobody in her family is a match so they are looking elsewhere. The test is really easy, its only a cheek swab, but if you are a match then they go in and take bone marrow. Unfortunately they won't consider me until I am out at least five years.
Kristen

inkblot

Hi Susan:

I donated fairly regularly prior to my bc dx. When I was about 2 years out, I was still getting the notices in the mail from Red Cross, so called up to see what the skinny was on my eligibility for donating again. (They have a number you can call for such inquiries. Unfortunately, I no longer have it.

They told me that if one has radiation, then one may resume donating after 5 years post treatment. But if one has chemo, they said you're never eligible to donate again. That made me a little sad but I understand the reasoning. You may want to contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross and they probably have the medical inquiries phone number and you can ring them for details. Or check on the web for the number or an email address for contacting them directly.

Hope that's helpful in some way.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

SusanAnne

inkblot said:

Hi Susan:

I donated fairly regularly prior to my bc dx. When I was about 2 years out, I was still getting the notices in the mail from Red Cross, so called up to see what the skinny was on my eligibility for donating again. (They have a number you can call for such inquiries. Unfortunately, I no longer have it.

They told me that if one has radiation, then one may resume donating after 5 years post treatment. But if one has chemo, they said you're never eligible to donate again. That made me a little sad but I understand the reasoning. You may want to contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross and they probably have the medical inquiries phone number and you can ring them for details. Or check on the web for the number or an email address for contacting them directly.

Hope that's helpful in some way.

Love, light and laughter,
Ink

Hi,

I was such a regular donor that they would call me every 56 days to remind me. When they called me after my dx, I was originally told by Red Cross personnel that I would never be able to donate again. They didn't take me off their list though and when they called 56 days later I was told I had to wait 1 yr after chemo ended. Today I was told that in the past it had been 5 yrs. then they changed it to 2 yrs. I tried to explain that Herceptin (they actually never heard of it before) really wasn't even chemo but they consider it "treatment" so they lump it together.

I really went there to take my daughter and her friend who are 16 to donate. In NY they had recently allowed 16 yr olds to donate with parental permission. Jenna was so excited to be able to do this. Unfortunately, last week they recinded that allowance as well and are not sure when or if they will accept 16 yr olds again. She was crushed.

I realize each state is different, but I'm just putting this out there that if you haven't checked the regulations recently, they have most likely changed!

Susan

cathdavis

I am in FL and when I tried to donate they told me I had to wait 5 yrs....didn't ask if I had chemo or anything, just that I had BC so therefore had to wait. Cathy