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Blood Donations after PCa?

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kw
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 883
Posted 2/15/2009 7:04 PM (GMT -7)
    Hey Everyone,  I used to be a regular blood donor before my PCa experience.  I was wondering if any of you were also?  Have you checked with your local blood bank to see how long the restriction for PCa is? I believe our blood bank is still holding PCa guys to a 5 year waiting period.  I will check on this tomorrow to make sure and will let you all know.

    Thanks,  KW

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Purgatory
Elite Member
Joined : Oct 2008
Posts : 25445
Posted 2/15/2009 7:06 PM (GMT -7)
KW, use to be in the "Gallon Club" years ago, but my blood hasnt been wanted since my first of four bouts of cancer, including the PC since 1999. It's a shame, I liked doing it.
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klondiker
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2009
Posts : 43
Posted 2/15/2009 7:59 PM (GMT -7)
http://www.newenglandblood.org/giving/word-table-eligibility-system14-recruiters-ver20080519.pdf

According to the Red Cross guidelines you can donate again 1 year after the last treatment.
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Jstars
Regular Member
Joined : Oct 2005
Posts : 489
Posted 2/15/2009 9:45 PM (GMT -7)
Thanx for that info K ... was a Gallon Club member also ...

(I see the guideline says nothing about cured or low PSA .. just one year after diag or treatment???

Very strange.

Of course when I gave blood in November before biopsy -- i had PCa .. no doubt thousands of
people donate blood when they have undiagnosed PCa and who knows what else.

jim
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klondiker
Regular Member
Joined : Feb 2009
Posts : 43
Posted 2/15/2009 9:55 PM (GMT -7)
There have been some recent studies trying to see if there is a relationship between cancer transmission and blood transfusions. All have been inconclusive so far.
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BillyMac
Veteran Member
Joined : Feb 2008
Posts : 1858
Posted 2/15/2009 11:02 PM (GMT -7)
If I remember correctly this has been discussed before. I believe you fellas in the U.S. can recommence donations after 1 year for non-blood cancers once you have been given the all clear following treatment. I think the 5 year period still applies to cancers of the blood. Unfortunately for us here in Australia the blanket 5 year prohibition still applies. It is a long stretch of the bow, but it is for instance, theoretically possible for a woman having had a transplant (from a male) and taking immuno-suppressant drugs to develop PCa bone metastases.
Bill
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Steve n Dallas
Veteran Member
Joined : Mar 2008
Posts : 4965
Posted 2/16/2009 7:47 AM (GMT -7)

The last discussion was approx October the 9th, 2008 and I'll be darn if I can find it..I emailed a local Carter Blood Care and the ARC American Red Cross about the different waiting periods...Here is a reply from the ARC:

Dear Mr. Jones:

I am replying to your e-mail sent to us earlier this afternoon in which you asked for an explanation for the different deferral periods you were being told in regards to deferring a donor with a history of cancer.

Actually, the FDA does not mandate anything about cancer-related deferral periods per se.  Therefore, it is up to the individual blood centers or systems [like the American Red Cross Blood Services (ARCBS)] to set its own guidance.  Given no documented cases (in the medical literature) of transfusion-transmitted cancer, the ARCBS recently decided that the deferral period for non-hematologic* types of cancer could be reduced—to one year, a change from the prior 5-year deferral period.  Both deferral periods are arbitrary, but the thinking is that a one-year deferral would at least ensure that the donor (with history of cancer) has had the chance to regain his/her previous level of health.  We always have to keep in mind the safety of the blood we collect in terms of the patient, as well as in regards to the donor—we have to ensure that in collecting a unit of blood, we are not compromising the health of a volunteer blood donor!  As for the blood center that still defers a donor for 5 years, it might be in the process of changing to one year deferrals, too. 

Mei-chien H. Fucci, M.D. Medical Officer, Southwest Region-Oklahoma

Chief Medical Officer, Central Plains Region

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Ken S
Regular Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 122
Posted 2/16/2009 9:02 AM (GMT -7)
What a timely post. I donated in Oct. and have to wait 16 weeks to donate again because I do the double red cell donation. This post reminded me that it was close to the 16 weeks so i checked my paperwork and sure enough today is the day that I'm able to donate again.

I donated for years before the RP. The blood center continued to call after and each time I'd tell them of my circumstance and my desire to donate again, they said they would get back to me but never did. Finally last Oct. I was given the green light after a few e-mails and phone calls.

Ken
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Ed C. (Old67)
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2009
Posts : 2492
Posted 2/16/2009 10:36 AM (GMT -7)
I used to be a regular blood donor (3 times a year) but had to stop since my PCa. I was told that you have to be cancer free for 7 years before you can donate blood again.
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maldugs
Veteran Member
Joined : Jun 2007
Posts : 802
Posted 2/16/2009 4:47 PM (GMT -7)
Hi everyone, I too was a regular blood donor, but after dx with Pca they told me I could not donate, I guess they have to be careful, but I miss going there.

Regards Mal.
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kw
Veteran Member
Joined : Nov 2006
Posts : 883
Posted 2/16/2009 7:40 PM (GMT -7)

    Hey Everyone,  I call the Oklahoma Blood Institute today and was told that the differal for PCa was one year.  I do not recall if that was from diagnosis or date of first clear check up from the Doctor?  Anyway, I guess I'm back on track to start donating agian.  Good thing, cause I'm needing more T-shirts to wear out in the yard.  Yeah, we get a t-shirt for each donation.  Also, being a Gov't Bean Counter we get 4 hours paid leave for rest and recouperation to donate blood! 

    Good Luck Everyone,  KW

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Roger G
Regular Member
Joined : Apr 2008
Posts : 150
Posted 2/17/2009 11:04 AM (GMT -7)
From the Canadian Blood Services.

Here is their web page about who can donate. Having cancer is not listed... so I called.

http://www.bloodservices.ca/centreapps/internet/uw_v502_mainengine.nsf/page/E_Can_I_Donate

In Canada you have an infefinite deferral.... ie no donating blood.
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Tony Crispino
Veteran Member
Joined : Dec 2006
Posts : 8151
Posted 2/17/2009 5:40 PM (GMT -7)
Kelly,
I will wait a few years and donte blood for money. Just tell me where I should send you...:-P

Tony
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