Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDonating Blood If You Have CancerEligibility Guidelines for the American Red CrossWhen Blood Donation Is Not AllowedTips When Donating Blood
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Donating Blood If You Have Cancer
Eligibility Guidelines for the American Red Cross
When Blood Donation Is Not Allowed
Tips When Donating Blood
Donating blood is such a simple thing to do and it makes a great impact on the lives of others. It is no wonder then that there are many questions regardingblood donation, especially when it comes to people living with cancer. One of the most frequently asked questions goes something like this:
“I would like to donate my blood, but was treated for lung cancer three years ago. Can people with cancer donate blood?”
This article discusses blood donation guidelines for people with cancer and cancer survivors.
There is not a simple “yes” or “no” answer towhether cancer patients can donate blood. Many people who have been treated for cancer are eligible to donate blood, provided they fall within certain guidelines. Eligibility guidelines vary among organizations.
Typically blood donations are allowed as often as every 56 days if you are in good health.The American Red Cross does allow some people with a history of cancer to donate blood.
Eligibility to donate blood generally depends on the kind of cancer you had, how long it has been since treatment, and how successful your treatment was. The donation center staff will review your health history and help you understand if you can be a donor.
The American Red Cross does note that those treated for low-risk in-situ carcinomas like basal cell carcinomas or squamous cell carcinoma (twotypes of skin cancers) do not need to wait 12 months after treatment before donating. People who have had aprecancerous cervical conditioncan donate, provided their cancer was successfully treated.
There are other conditions and factors that affect donor eligibility. Read theRed Cross’s list of medical conditions that may affect your donor status.
According to the American Cancer Society, you are not allowed to donate blood if:
When you go to a blood donation center, be as thorough as possible about your health history when you give blood. A person called a blood historian will record all of your information before you are accepted to give blood. You should tell the blood historian how your cancer was treated and when your last treatment was completed.
If you have any questions prior to donating, you can call your local Red Cross or ask your oncologist.
How Often Can You Donate Plasma?
Summary
Blood donation is a life-saving gift. Donor eligibility after cancer treatment varies. Generally, it must be at least 12 months since your last cancer treatment before you may be considered as a donor. Speak with your healthcare team or local blood donation center to understand if it is safe for you to donate blood.
A Word From Verywell
Frequently Asked QuestionsAccording to American Red Cross guidelines, blood donation is not permitted while undergoing active cancer treatment. You must wait 12 months from the time of your last treatment and you must have no signs ofrecurrence.The staff at the blood donation center will review your history and let you know if you can donate.If you are interested in being an organ donor, make sure you have signed up on the registry in your area. In many states, your desire to donate your organs will be listed on your driver’s license. The organ donation organization near you will consider your health condition at the time of death to determine if you can be a donor.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to American Red Cross guidelines, blood donation is not permitted while undergoing active cancer treatment. You must wait 12 months from the time of your last treatment and you must have no signs ofrecurrence.The staff at the blood donation center will review your history and let you know if you can donate.
If you are interested in being an organ donor, make sure you have signed up on the registry in your area. In many states, your desire to donate your organs will be listed on your driver’s license. The organ donation organization near you will consider your health condition at the time of death to determine if you can be a donor.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Yang H, Lee J, Seed CR, Keller AJ.Can blood tranfusion transmit cancer? A literature review.Transfus Med Rev. 2010;24(3):235-243. doi:10.1016/j.tmrv.2010.03.005
American Red Cross.Eligibility criteria: cancer.
American Cancer Society.Can I donate blood if I’m a cancer survivor?
UNOS.orgFrequently asked questions.
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