When can I restart donating blood?

[Huzzah1]

Before my Dx, I had been a very regular blood donor. I am CMV (cytomegalovirus) negative, only about 15% of the population has not been exposed to this. As a result, my blood donations are set aside for infants. As an O positive donor, I was in the Heroes for Babies program as they can only receive CMV negative blood, otherwise it could be fatal.

I had been told that i needed to wait for cancer treatment to be finished for 1 year before I could donate again. My 44 rounds of IMRT were completed in '22 and ADT 2 months ago.

Does anyone know if having ADT disqualifies you from donating blood? I can't seem to find a good answer from Red Cross.

[Mascouche]

I used to give blood 2 to 3 times a year before I was diagnosed with cancer. I don't know if it is the same in the USA but if my memory serves (and its been years so I don't know for sure), but I think that when the blood clinic turned me away because I had cancer, the questionnaire pretty much only said something like "Have you ever had cancer" and if you answered yes, that's it. So probably we can never give blood again.

[MouseAddams in reply to Mascouche]

“People may be deferred from donation if they have a history of cancer, bleeding conditions or blood disease. “ per AABB (American Association of Blood Banks) website. So unfortunately you will probably be deferred from now on. I feel your frustration as my hubby was AB positive and donated for babies too.

I’m permanently deferred due to Mad Cow disease in Europe because if you consumed any beef products during that timeframe you’re not allowed to donate because of prions. This has impacted the American blood supply too as many military personnel were stationed in Europe.

“The "mad cow disease" epidemic that killed more than 200 people in Europe peaked more than a decade ago, but the threat it poses is still real. Eating meat contaminated with bovine spongiform encephalopathy and its hallmark misshapen proteins, called prions, can cause a fatal and untreatable brain disorder, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD). Thousands of Europeans are thought to be asymptomatic carriers, and they can spread prions through blood donations. So for years, researchers have sought a test to safeguard blood supplies.” Per Science.org

[RJAMSG in reply to MouseAddams]

I thought that was the case too re: Europe but the Blood folks isolated it to an issue in Scotland so when I informed them I was in Heidelberg Germany during that time frame, they said that I can now donate blood, which was nice since I have O-Negative blood.

[chefjlu]

I am AB+ and as a rare blood they look for it, as well for my plasma as it is the Universal Plasma donor. Just completed 2 years of ADT near end of May. Checked with hospital and doctors, as long as blood workup is fine I was allowed to give blood about 10 days ago (2 months). They check for cancer history and if you are still in treatment. Allow time for the blood to level back - I was a bit low at times in Hemoglobin on ADT, but back to good levels now. All testing by the Red Cross was excellent following donation was excellent. If you are receiving Chemotherapy impact is different.

[Cramlingtonboy in reply to chefjlu]

Hello fellow AB+!

In Canada, you can donate if you've been cancer free for five years. If someone has a detectable PSA it would make sense not to donate out of an abundance of caution.

[chefjlu in reply to Cramlingtonboy]

My PSA has been undetectable for nearly 2 years at this point. I have been genetically tested - all negative. They run standard tests and in my case 2 extra specific tests that all showed no issues. I had RP over 5 years ago, went 3 years no treatment, then salvage radiation & ADT for 2 years. PSA went undetectable 1 month out of radiation.

[j-o-h-n]

One word only "HEROES"....

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Jac_J]

No offence, Im not sure I would want your blood and I would not want my children to have it either.

Im sure you can contribute to a child's welfare in other ways?

[Cramlingtonboy in reply to Jac_J]

I received 5 units of blood after a hip replacement operation went wrong. I'll always wonder if that's where my prostate cancer came from.

[Aussieguy1]

I think blood donors should first and foremost remember that their donation is going to someone that is already unwell, all deferrals are made for this reason. You do not want to compromise the health of the recipient of your donation.

To be able to donate after having cancer you have to no longer be receiving treatment. It does vary between countries. Here in Australia the Lifeblood guidelines are that you must be free of cancer and have not received any type of treatment for the last five years.