Donating Blood

I was told today by the blood center rep, that you need to be in cancer
"remission" for 2 years to donate blood. I always thought it was more like 5
years? Anyone have any experience with this?


--
JK Sinrod
www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com

Glassman,
Attached is a donation deferral list from the Central Jersey Blood Center
which calls for 5 years of clear sailing.
http://www.cjbcblood.org/deferral_info.php

Tom

"JKGlassman" <jksinrod*SPAM*@aol.com> wrote in message
news:485defe9$0$11619$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> I was told today by the blood center rep, that you need to be in cancer
> "remission" for 2 years to donate blood. I always thought it was more like
> 5 years? Anyone have any experience with this?
>
>
> --
> JK Sinrod
> www.MyConeyIslandMemories.com
>
>

Tom Cular wrote:
> Glassman,
> Attached is a donation deferral list from the Central Jersey Blood Center
> which calls for 5 years of clear sailing.
> http://www.cjbcblood.org/deferral_info.php
>
> Tom
>
> "JKGlassman" <jksinrod*SPAM*@aol.com> wrote in message
> news:485defe9$0$11619$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>> I was told today by the blood center rep, that you need to be in cancer
>> "remission" for 2 years to donate blood. I always thought it was more like
>> 5 years? Anyone have any experience with this?

Does anyone know why cancer survivors are risky blood donors?
I didn't think cancer could be transmitted from person to
person. Can it?

Alan

"Alan Meyer" <ameyer2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:g3loaa$s8m$1@registered.motzarella.org...

> Does anyone know why cancer survivors are risky blood donors?
> I didn't think cancer could be transmitted from person to
> person. Can it?

I've just been on the Internet looking for it and can't find it. Our local
blood center's website did say, "certain types of cancer", but did not
mention which types were temporarily a bar for donation.

I wonder it if it soley out of ignorance. People are ignorant of cancer,
ergo the blood center doesn't want a hint of 'tainted' blood regardless as
to whether it is.

That said, I suspect that there might be some concern for the amount of
hormones in my blood.


--
PSA 16 10/17/2000 @ 46
Biopsy 11/01/2000 G7 (3+4), T2c
RRP 12/15/2000 G7 (3+4), T3cN0M0 Neg margins
PSA <.1 <.1 <.1 .27 .37 .75 PSAD 0.19 years
EBRT 05-07/2002 @ 47
PSA .34 .22 .15 .21 .32 PSAD .056 years
Lupron 07/03 (1 mo) 8/03 and every 4 months there after
PSA .07 .05 .06 .09 .08 .132 .145 PSAD 1.4 years
Casodex added daily 07/06
PSA <0.04, <0.05, <0.04, <0.04, <0.1 2/12/08
Illegitimati non carborundum

"Alan Meyer" <ameyer2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:g3loaa$s8m$1@registered.motzarella.org...
> Tom Cular wrote:
>> Attached is a donation deferral list from the Central Jersey Blood
>> Center which calls for 5 years of clear sailing.
>> http://www.cjbcblood.org/deferral_info.php
>>
>> Tom
>
> Does anyone know why cancer survivors are risky blood donors?
> I didn't think cancer could be transmitted from person to
> person. Can it?
>
> Alan

I would imagine there could be cancer cells in the blood. But what of
all the people giving it who do have cancer but don't know it yet. Dumb
answer I suppose, but as I have a fairly rare blood type, I have tried
to give and been turned down simply because I take a daily medication or
two. And at our age, I would imagine most people take bp or cholesterol
meds, or things like that.

However......if it meant the difference between someone living or dying,
why not take my blood?? Never have understood that. And I have a
*short list* of people with my blood type should I ever need it or vice
versa.

Heather

When my wife went into hospital two years ago she had a great fear of
needing transfusions that she wanted to "donate" her own blood before the
surgery. The hospital assured her that it was not necessary. The risk of
contacting a donor's disease was almost non-existent. So, she decided not to
donate. Following surgery she needed 3 units of blood because of
complications. So far so good. But when the hospital totaled up and
submitted their bill, they stuck the insurance company for 3 units of blood
@ $185 per unit. Wasn't/isn't there something about an agreement with the
American Red Cross, that a donor would not be charged for blood? She has
been a longtime donor.

We don't pay for it up here, of course. But shouldn't there be some
*equal swap* type of thing for Americans who do donate regularly?? I
would look into that if I were you.

Or better yet, present them with an invoice for $185 the next time she
donates a pint. 8-))

Heather

"3Putt in Coastal SC" <bogey@theswamp.com> wrote in message
news:P4w7k.181899$pm2.149988@en-nntp-04.dc1.easynews.com...
> When my wife went into hospital two years ago she had a great fear of
> needing transfusions that she wanted to "donate" her own blood before
> the surgery. The hospital assured her that it was not necessary. The
> risk of contacting a donor's disease was almost non-existent. So, she
> decided not to donate. Following surgery she needed 3 units of blood
> because of complications. So far so good. But when the hospital
> totaled up and submitted their bill, they stuck the insurance company
> for 3 units of blood @ $185 per unit. Wasn't/isn't there something
> about an agreement with the American Red Cross, that a donor would not
> be charged for blood? She has been a longtime donor.

Alan Meyer wrote:
> Tom Cular wrote:
>> Glassman,
>> Attached is a donation deferral list from the Central Jersey Blood
>> Center which calls for 5 years of clear sailing.
>> http://www.cjbcblood.org/deferral_info.php
>>
>> Tom
>>
>> "JKGlassman" <jksinrod*SPAM*@aol.com> wrote in message
>> news:485defe9$0$11619$607ed4bc@cv.net...
>>> I was told today by the blood center rep, that you need to be in
>>> cancer "remission" for 2 years to donate blood. I always thought it
>>> was more like 5 years? Anyone have any experience with this?
>
> Does anyone know why cancer survivors are risky blood donors?

They're not. The risk of transfer is minimal:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/556979
> I didn't think cancer could be transmitted from person to
> person. Can it?
>
> Alan

Heather wrote:
> "Alan Meyer" <ameyer2@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:g3loaa$s8m$1@registered.motzarella.org...
>> Tom Cular wrote:
>>> Attached is a donation deferral list from the Central Jersey Blood
>>> Center which calls for 5 years of clear sailing.
>>> http://www.cjbcblood.org/deferral_info.php
>>>
>>> Tom
>> Does anyone know why cancer survivors are risky blood donors?
>> I didn't think cancer could be transmitted from person to
>> person. Can it?
>>
>> Alan
>
> I would imagine there could be cancer cells in the blood.

Yes, umm, for example in the case of blood cancers as leukemia and
multiple myeloma. That's why they're called blood cancer.


But what of
> all the people giving it who do have cancer but don't know it yet. Dumb
> answer I suppose, but as I have a fairly rare blood type, I have tried
> to give and been turned down simply because I take a daily medication or
> two. And at our age, I would imagine most people take bp or cholesterol
> meds, or things like that.
>
> However......if it meant the difference between someone living or dying,
> why not take my blood?? Never have understood that. And I have a
> *short list* of people with my blood type should I ever need it or vice
> versa.
>
> Heather
>
>

"3Putt in Coastal SC" <bogey@theswamp.com> wrote in message
news:P4w7k.181899$pm2.149988@en-nntp-04.dc1.easynews.com...
> When my wife went into hospital two years ago she had a great fear of
> needing transfusions that she wanted to "donate" her own blood before the
> surgery. The hospital assured her that it was not necessary. The risk of
> contacting a donor's disease was almost non-existent. So, she decided not
> to donate. Following surgery she needed 3 units of blood because of
> complications. So far so good. But when the hospital totaled up and
> submitted their bill, they stuck the insurance company for 3 units of
> blood @ $185 per unit. Wasn't/isn't there something about an agreement
> with the American Red Cross, that a donor would not be charged for blood?
> She has been a longtime donor.

Hey, 3 Putt! Haven't heard from you in awhile. Last I recall, your PSAs
were pretty level about 1.0 until December. Still getting checked every
three months?

On Jun 22, 1:50 pm, safire <saf...@telenet.com> wrote:
> Alan Meyer wrote:
> > Tom Cular wrote:
> >> Glassman,
> >> Attached is a donation deferral list from the Central Jersey Blood
> >> Center which calls for 5 years of clear sailing.
> >>http://www.cjbcblood.org/deferral_info.php
>
> >> Tom
>
> >> "JKGlassman" <jksinrod*SP...@aol.com> wrote in message
> >>news:485defe9$0$11619$607ed4bc@cv.net...
> >>> I was told today by the blood center rep, that you need to be in
> >>> cancer "remission" for 2 years to donate blood. I always thought it
> >>> was more like 5 years? Anyone have any experience with this?
>
> > Does anyone know why cancer survivors are risky blood donors?
>
> They're not. The risk of transfer is minimal:http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/556979
>
> > I didn't think cancer could be transmitted from person to
> > person. Can it?
>
> > Alan

There was at least one documented case of prostate cancer transmitted
via a donated organ. This was established by genetic analysis of the
cancer. Of course, people receiiving organ tranplants are given
power immunosuppressive drugs, so ordinary mechanisms for preventing
caner cells from proliferating are not fully in play. I suppose that
since one can't tell what blood will be used for, and since it could
be used for patients with compromised immune systems, the theory is
that it is best to be careful.

Still, the link given above makes it sound as though this is being
much too overly cautious.

I did provide two units of blood before my RP in case it was needed
furing surgery, and the nurse told me that if it were not used, it
would just be discarded, so they didn't even bother to test it for the
standard things. I remember wondering about that at the time. I
suppose it was the same sort of caution.

"len" <len@math.northwestern.edu> wrote in message
news:a32f1ffe-e561-434c-b65c-f87e675f4eba@d1g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

> There was at least one documented case of prostate cancer transmitted
> via a donated organ. This was established by genetic analysis of the
> cancer. Of course, people receiiving organ tranplants are given
> power immunosuppressive drugs, so ordinary mechanisms for preventing
> caner cells from proliferating are not fully in play.

Curious. Do you know if this cancer caused any problem outside the
transplanted organ? I am a little fuzzy on the whole testosterone,
androgen, PCa cell feeding thing. It seems like testosterone produced by
another man would have a tough time matching up.