Blood Donations

[Fox2018]

Does a prostate cancer diagnosis preclude you from donating blood? I have been a regular donor for 25 years and am wondering if I can /should continue to donate. Wil i get "turned away at the gate" if I try?

[Tall_Allen]

There are circulating tumor cells - I would not donate if I were you

[AlanMeyer Moderator]

I called the blood donation center and was told that I was unacceptable as a donor. Some years have passed since then and I may be okay now - but how would anyone know? It seems safest not to do it.

[Fox2018 in reply to AlanMeyer]

OK - thanks for the feedback. It hurts not to be able to continue to donate.

[AlanMeyer Moderator in reply to Fox2018]

I commend you for your years of blood donations. Maybe you can do other kinds of volunteer work to fill the gap.

Alan

[Hidden in reply to AlanMeyer]

The same applies, I believe, to organ donation for transplant. However, you can donate organs for medical research. Posthumously of course!

[Fox2018 in reply to Hidden]

Saw my radiation oncologist today - she confirmed no more blood donations

[speedyhaddock in reply to Hidden]

The Blood transfusion service is picky like that sourcing uncontaminated blood products >>>> A donation from us prostate cancer blokes would be like getting second hand tyres from a breakers yard with built in punctures

[Hidden in reply to speedyhaddock]

Good analogy!

[Fox2018 in reply to Hidden]

You guys are great - make me laugh!

[MelbourneDavid]

In Australia I have to wait for 5 years of "No evidence of disease" before I can donate again. Annoyingly it was only 3 years when I was diagnosed, but they changed the rules.