Organ Donors??

OOPS - double post
OOPS - double post

Katz77 said:

wow
Last week at my hospital we had a donor seminar. I asked that question. I have always wanted to donate my organs, and have been upset because now I can't.... or cant I? Found out that I can donate my corneas. Yeaaaa! The gift of sight is awesome. Hope this helps. Hey, how have you been? Hugs, Katz

I think we can donate a few
I think we can donate a few different organs. Not sure which ones.

Organ donation after Cancer
According to the U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services (www.organdonor.gov):"All people regardless of age should consider themselves potential organ and tissue donors. There are few absolute exclusions (such as HIV infection, ACTIVE CANCER, systemic infection) and no strict upper or lower age limits. Potential donors will be evaluated for suitability when the occasion arises. No one is too old or too young. Both newborns and senior citizens have been organ donors. The CONDITION of your organs is more important than age. Doctors will examine your organs and determine whether they are suitable for donation if the situation arises. If you are under 18, you may need the permission of a parent or guardian to donate. The transplant team's decision will be based on a combination of factors such as your specific illness and your physical condition to determine which organs and tissues can be donated."

The organs of the body that can be transplanted at the current time are kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and the intestines. Kidney/pancreas transplants, heart/lung transplants, and other combined organ transplants also are performed. Organs cannot be stored and must be used within hours of removing them from the donor's body. Most donated organs are from people who have died, but a living individual can donate a kidney, part of the pancreas, part of a lung, part of the liver, or part of the intestine.

Corneas, the middle ear, skin, heart valves, bone, veins, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments can be stored in tissue banks and used to restore sight, cover burns, repair hearts, replace veins, and mend damaged connective tissue and cartilage in recipients.

Hope this info is of some help to you. IRENE

sal314 said:

Several Yeas Ago I Was Told Cancer Patience Cannot Donate
If you've had cancer I don't think they will accept any organs to to the fact that cancer could be in the blood stream but not active. Not sure if that's changed in the last 9 years since I've heard that though.

I do know that they will not let me donate blood since I've been treated for cancer.

Sally

Even that is doable...*smile*
Because of the type of cancers I have had, I asked Life Stream (blood bank) if I could resume donation (I'm a 5-gallon donor).

I was told yes, I can. As long as I am out at least a year from any treatment and active cancer.

Hugs, Kathi

maybe find some answers here (I Know NYS but just to get idea)
http://www.health.state.ny.us/publications/2853.pdf

MAJW said:

Told No..
Just had my drivers license renewed and had to have the symbol as an organ donor removed..I was told that I no longer qualified to be an organ donor..by my physician..

JAJW@ how did they know cancer
When I renew mine i just get same license each time..no quetsions other then eye test!

MUCH INFO HERE
http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/SurvivorshipDuringandAfterTreatment/can-i-donate-my-organs

Brother donated organs
My younger brother who did not have cancer had an untimely death due to no clotting agents in his blood. They ask the next of kin what kind of illnesses he had durring his life time. I suspect when they hear the word cancer they either rule you out or ask how long it was since chemo. I suspect if you can donate they would take what they could use. I had thought of this too as I am an avid supporter of organ donation. I suspect now that my body can still be used for research. I of course am particularly interested in my body being donated for research in cancer. So despite the fact that we may not be able to donate any organs to save a life, I suspect that we can donate our bodies to science for research. In this way we would be able to add to the knowlege base of those fighting cancer. I was in fact going to contact gift of life Michigan today to check on this very question.

skipper54 said:

excellent question
I was told no to organ donation as well as blood donor so had the icon removed from my driver's license. Now I'm starting to wonder after reading all the posts here. I see my oncologist tomorrow and will ask him. I know the cancer question is on the blood donor profile sheet and as soon as I said yes I was told sorry, you are no longer a blood donor. Maybe that will change as the years go by in remission.

Useful information
Alot of good information we've been given to read.I did some reading last night after posting.I believe I was looking here at our board on Circle of Sharing.I think that was the place I looked(you know how some of us are forgetful at times).There was a post about organ donors and cancer.

I see alot of doctors said NO to some of you and the license bureau seems to say NO. I would'nt want a organ donation for me or my family from a cancer patient.I will be going with everything but will debate on my corneas.I did read that was OK on that post last night. Like someone said it could be in our blood.That cancer gene is in our body just waiting to come out. It may or may not someday.My doctors stress that to me.

Lynn Smith

sal314 said:

Several Yeas Ago I Was Told Cancer Patience Cannot Donate
If you've had cancer I don't think they will accept any organs to to the fact that cancer could be in the blood stream but not active. Not sure if that's changed in the last 9 years since I've heard that though.

I do know that they will not let me donate blood since I've been treated for cancer.

Sally

I was told that I couldn't
I was told that I couldn't donate blood because of my cancer. I just assumed that I couldn't donate any organs, but, I don't know.

Interesting post, thanks!