Helping people with cancer
Your donation could be a lifeline for someone with cancer.
People with cancer may require transfusions of red blood cells, plasma, platelets or all three for a variety of different reasons.
Transfusions help people with cancer to continue treatment and to help them remain well. In the case of a stem cell transplant - it can directly save their life.
That’s where you come in – whether you donate blood, plasma, platelets or stem cells you could be giving someone with cancer the lifeline that helps them to fight the disease.
How different blood components help
Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow, if a patient’s bone marrow production is affected by cancer or damaged by chemotherapy or radiotherapy, it could lead to low red blood cell counts which could cause anaemia or increase the risk of bleeding or infections.
Transfusions of donated blood are needed to boost the red blood cell count, some patients may need one or two transfusions and some may need daily transfusions. This includes for cancers like leukaemias, multiple myeloma, and some lymphomas.
Digestive system cancers could cause internal bleeding so can also be treated with blood transfusions. Patients may also need blood transfusions during or after cancer surgery.
Can I give blood if I have had cancer?
Our advice depends on the type of cancer.
Please search for the relevant cancer in our health & eligibility section.
Bone marrow, the soft, spongy tissue found in the centre of certain bones in your body, produces blood stem cells.
Stem cells are the 'building blocks' of the body as they can mature into any of the other normal blood cells, like red cells, white cells that fight infection or platelets.
Stem cell transplants save the lives of people with blood cancers - for some people, a stem cell transplant is their only chance of a cure. Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and it is the most common type of childhood cancer.
To receive a stem cell transplant, a donor must be found as a match for the patient. In around 70% of cases, patients must rely on a volunteer donor, while 30% of patients find a match with a relative.
Patients who have to have a stem cell transplant for treatment for blood cancers may also need blood or platelets because they are usually treated with large doses of chemotherapy before the transplant.
You can join the NHS Stem Cell Donor Registry at a blood, plasma or platelet donation. It is rare to be found as a match for a patient in need of a transplant, but if you are contacted to donate stem cells we will support you through the process.
Platelets are gold-coloured cells which help blood to clot.
Around 70% of platelet donations help people with cancer. 1 donation can help up to 3 adults or 12 children.
Like red blood cells, platelet production can be damaged by cancer or by chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Multiple, regular platelet transfusions could be needed by a patient with cancer to prevent blood loss or bruising.
Without platelet transfusions, some patients could be at risk of excessive bleeding particularly following cancer surgery or even brain haemorrhages.
Platelets can only be stored for 7 days so the demand is always high.
If you are a current blood donor with the blood types A negative, A positive or AB negative, you may be able to make the switch to platelet donation.
Plasma is the part of your blood that carries platelets, red blood cells and white blood cells around the body.
Plasma also contains antibodies which fight infections.
Plasma can be used to make lifesaving immunoglobulin medicines. These medicines are used to support patients with weakened immune systems, including some cancer patients whose immune function has been affected by radiotherapy or chemotherapy.
You could donate plasma if you’re able to travel to a plasma donor centre in Birmingham, Reading, or Twickenham.
