Help People With Cancer: Donate Blood and

Platelets

INTRODUCTION

Like the heart or lungs, our blood is an essential element of our body that is easily taken for
granted. Blood carries oxygen throughout the body. In tissues and organs, blood helps
exchange nutrients and waste products. Cells that make up blood include:
• Red blood cells (red blood cells, RBCs): RBCs contain hemoglobin, a protein rich in iron
that carries oxygen and gives blood its red color.
• Platelets: These cells help form clots when we bleed. Clotting keeps us from bleeding too
much from injury. When the platelet count is low, serious or life-threatening bleeding can
occur.
• Plasma: This yellow fluid in the blood carries RBCs, platelets, and cells or proteins, such
as antibodies, that help fight infection. Cryoprecipitate is the part of plasma that separates
as frozen plasma is slowly thawed. It contains a concentration of blood clotting proteins
higher than that of regular plasma. People with cancer do not need transfusions of this part
of their blood often.

DEVELOPING
Why Blood and Platelet Donations Are Needed
Unlike drugs, blood products cannot be made in a laboratory. But sometimes the extra
blood is just as essential to patient care as medicine. People with cancer may need extra
whole blood, or just some of it, such as platelets:
• When cancer or its treatment causes a low RBC count, called anemia, whole blood
transfusions are used to replace the RBCs. Whole blood transfusions can also be used to
replace blood loss during surgeries.
• People with cancer can develop low platelet counts, or thrombocytopenia, when the
body's bone marrow is damaged by certain kinds of chemotherapy or by some types of
leukemia or lymphoma.
Replenishing blood lost from injury or chemotherapy requires blood from healthy donors.
The American Red Cross organizes public blood drives and stores blood in banks. In a
standard process required by law, all donated blood is tested for blood group (A, B, AB, or
O) and Rh factor (positive or negative). The blood is also tested for unexpected antibodies
against red blood cells that could cause problems for the recipient, as well as for diseases
that could spread to the recipients.
How to donate blood or platelets
If you want to donate blood or platelets, a good first step is to find your local Red Cross
blood bank or unit where you can donate. Make sure to bring proper identification, such as
a driver's license.
To qualify as a donor, you must be at least 16 or 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds,
and be in good health. You may not be able to donate if:
• Take certain medications: People taking blood thinners may have to go through a waiting
period before they can donate. People taking antibiotics for an infection should wait until
they are healthy again before donating.
• You have certain medical conditions: People with very high or very low blood pressure,
other heart conditions, or some viruses such as HIV or hepatitis may not be able to donate.
• You traveled to certain countries: If you traveled or lived in countries with high rates of
malaria or viruses such as mad cow disease, you may have to wait or you may not be able
to donate.
• You are pregnant: Pregnant women cannot donate. You must wait 6 weeks after delivery
to donate blood.
• Have a history of cancer: People previously diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma may
not be able to donate. People who had other cancers or who were treated a long time ago
may qualify as donors.
Donating whole blood usually takes about 10 minutes. Blood is drawn from a donor vein,
usually from an arm, and placed in a medical bag. Side effects are rare. Afterwards, you can
get juice and a snack, and you should avoid heavy exercise for the rest of the day. Healthy
people can donate again 8 weeks later.
You can also donate platelets only. This process is called apheresis and is slightly different
from giving a whole blood donation. During platelet donation, blood is drawn from one
arm and then a centrifuge separates the platelets. The rest of the blood returns to the donor
through the other arm. This way, more platelets are obtained than with a whole blood
donation. However, platelets obtained cannot be stored for as long as whole blood.
CONCLUSION
Platelet donation takes 2 hours and may have mild side effects such as chills or tingling.
Platelet donations can be repeated every 7 days, but most people are limited to 24 donations
per year. People interested in donating platelets should:
• avoid taking aspirin or aspirin-containing products for at least 48 hours before a donation;
• consume extra calcium and fluids before donating;
• avoid strenuous exercise or heavy lifting immediately after donating.
Every day across the country, there is always a need for more platelets and donated blood
from all groups. Talk to your doctor's office or local blood donation center for more
information.