Cancer survivors often ask the question if they can donate blood. One should remember that the most important goal in blood banking is to ensure the safety of the blood products and to protect those who get the transfusions. Given the theoretical risk of circulating skin cancer cells, which might be passed on to the blood recipient, a skin cancer or localised cancer patient should not donate blood, says Dr Santosh Gowda, Additional Director, Medical Oncology, Fortis Hospital at Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore.
One cannot donate if cancer is active, spreading or one is undergoing active treatment. For cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma, melanoma or multiple myeloma, a person is absolutely not allowed to donate blood. Talking about the localised non-melanoma skin cancer that has not spread elsewhere, a person may give blood if the tumour has been removed and healing is complete. For localized solid cancers, a person may donate blood five years after treatment completion, provided that there is no evidence of disease recurrence. This time frame may vary among blood banks from 12 months to 5 years. Keeping in mind the reoccurrence of the cancer, your oncologist will advise you for or against blood donation. Remember to always consult your oncologist before planning any blood donation. Read more about Can you donate blood if you have asthma?
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