Health
Blood Donation for Cancer Patients
Chemo wards need donors on a schedule.
Why cancer care consumes blood
Chemotherapy suppresses marrow, so patients need repeated red-cell and especially platelet transfusions across months of treatment — a single leukemia patient can need dozens of units.
Platelets: the critical gap
With a 5-day shelf life, platelet supply for oncology depends on donors who give repeatedly and reliably — apheresis donors are oncology's quiet heroes.
Steady beats surge
Cancer demand is continuous, not event-driven; joining a donor network that can call you when the ward runs short fits the need better than annual camps.
Frequently asked questions
Can I direct my donation to a cancer patient?
Replacement donation via the hospital bank effectively does this; the bank manages allocation.
Do platelet donors need special eligibility?
Standard criteria plus adequate platelet count and no aspirin for 72 hours.