Organ donation and Glioblastoma

[Isla74]

Apologies for the morbid topic but is anyone aware of a glioblastoma patient being able to donate organs? The organ donation website rules anyone out with active cancer but I’ve also read that Glioblastoma patients can make good candidates for donation if they don’t suffer other health conditions. My husband was diagnosed in March’21 in his 40s. He has been fit and active all his life and had the body of someone in their 30s with a super healthy diet. He was still walking 10 miles a day nearly a year after his diagnosis when the doctors said he shouldn’t be walking and talking at Christmas. It would give his family some comfort to think something good could come from this truely dreadful situation.

[Tansi75]

Hi Isla74,Last year I informed my Oncologist that I had decided to donate my brain to Cancer Research and had written this into my will. This would enable researchers to not just identify the affect of my Grade 4 glio tumours, but also the effect of my alternative anti-cancer treatments I have been taking for the past 12 years. This is the only way they can truly understand the cause and affect of cancer cells and the results of treatment e.g. radiotherapy, chemotherapy and the Sativex clinical trial I participated in. I do hope that this could help them to identify and develop possible alternative treatments, to enable other people live a longer and more positive life, despite a high grade prognosis.

As regards to any other organs, my wife knows I am happy for those to be donated, if they are deemed suitable for donation.

I hope this helps.

[Bran777]

Hi, just lost a 24 yr old boy to this monster! He donated his eyes only. I am sorry to hear of your husband facing this beast.

[15773 in reply to Bran777]

I am so sorry to hear about your son. My husband is fighting the monster and at 67, that's tough enough. To lose a child is unthinkable. I very much hope that you can find a way to cope with your grief

[Isla74]

Thank you Tansi and Bran for your replies. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. Bran, I am so sorry to hear about your son. You often read of patients in their 60’s and 70’s but your son at 24yrs old is so far beyond cruel.

[15773]

Morning Isla, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband, how is he now? I can't help on organ donation, not a subject we've dealt with yet but thank you for raising the topic

[Isla74 in reply to 15773]

Hi 15773. Thank you for asking. He’s not doing terribly well but he’s not in any pain which is a blessing.

[15773]

It's so tough, Isla, take care

[Mad4cats]

I asked whether I could donate organs at a recent neuro-oncology appointment and was told no. The Consultant said that although my type of cancer (multi focal glioblastoma multiforme) usually remain within the brain and didn't metastasise to other parts of the body, the organ donation team would not consider me as a candidate unfortunately

I also considered myself relatively'healthy' pre diagnosis- ran regularly and have been vegetarian for almost thirty years

It may be different with glioblastoma

Wishing you both all the very best

Camilla