Tag Archives: Platelet Donors

The Unseen Battle: Why Platelet Donations are Vital for Those Fighting Breast Cancer 

Posted on by
Reply

By Kathryn Dean, American Red Cross volunteer 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  In the United States, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their life, making breast cancer the second most common cancer in women behind skin cancer.   

Mother and son, Rosalie Lang and Ryan Lang

Almost all of us have been affected in one way or another by this terrible disease, whether it has impacted a family member, friend, associate, or oneself.  Ryan Lang, Regional Communications Manager at the American Red Cross Northern Ohio Region, shared his own personal story back in February about his mom’s battle with breast cancer.  You can read his story HERE. 

When dealing with any cancer, transfusions are often an important and crucial part of treatment.  Chemotherapy and radiation cause bone marrow suppression, reducing the number of blood cells that the body can produce.  Low counts of red and white blood cells and platelets lead to symptoms like anemia, immunosuppression, and risk of hemorrhage.   

With around one-fourth of all blood products and half of all platelets used in the U.S. by patients who are fighting cancer, it is crucial to maintain an adequate blood supply. 

Platelet donations are needed daily, as they have a shelf life of only about 5 days.  However, most are tested and used within 3 days.  The need is so great that every 15 seconds, someone in the U.S. receives a platelet infusion.   

Donating platelets is by appointment only and will take around 3 hours of your time, but a single donation can help up to 3 people in need.  Here are some things to expect at your visit: 

  • 3 hours from start to finish includes set up, pre-donation questionnaire, and refreshments afterwards. 
  • A smaller needle is used to donate platelets than a standard blood donation, making the process more comfortable for some. 
  • Eligibility is the same as that for whole blood donations. 
  • It is possible to donate both plasma and platelets at the same time if you choose. 
  • Some find recovery to be easier than blood donations, as the fluids and red blood cells are returned to you during the process. 

Make a difference this October and help those fighting breast cancer and beyond by considering a life-giving donation. Donate platelets by Oct. 19 and receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card, or donate between Oct. 20–Nov. 3 to receive an American Red Cross Platelet Donor t-shirt, while supplies last! 

To learn more about platelet donations, click the link HERE.  You can schedule an appointment by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App HERE, or by visiting this link HERE. 

World Cancer Day: The power of platelets and other blood products

Posted on by
Reply

By Ryan Lang, American Red Cross board member and volunteer

I was just a small child when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. In fact, most of my childhood she was in remission. That is, until she wasn’t. I was 12 or 13 when it came back more aggressively. I was 16 when she eventually passed away.

Rosalie and Ryan Lang

Trips to the doctor’s office and hospital were commonplace throughout my early teen years. No one doctor visit really stood out. What did stand out were the times my father and my aunts and uncles went to donate platelets on behalf of my mother. I was young and naive and thought they were specifically for mom. I later realized they were donating to replenish the supply of platelets.

Due to their short shelf life, hospitals require a consistent supply of platelets. That’s why donors like my dad, aunts and uncles, and you are critical to helping the American Red Cross replenish that supply.

February 4 is World Cancer Day, a day that touches many of us who have either had the disease or know someone who has fought the tough battle against it. Almost two million new cases may occur this year, according to experts, and blood products will be important for many of these patients in their fight against cancer.

Blood is so important during their treatment that patients fighting cancer use nearly one quarter of the nation’s blood supply — more than patients fighting any other disease. The Red Cross asks you to schedule a time to donate blood now to help cancer patients and so many others.

CANCER PATIENTS NEED BLOOD — THE FACTS

  • One in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during their lifetime.
  • Many of these patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy, will likely have a need for blood products.
  • In fact, about six blood products are needed every minute to help someone going through cancer treatment.
  • Low blood count is a major side effect of cancer treatment. Some types of chemotherapy can damage bone marrow, reducing red blood cell and platelet production and putting a person at risk for life-threatening infections or bleeding.
  • The cancer itself can cause the need for blood and platelet transfusions by causing internal bleeding or preventing the patient’s body from producing blood cells.
Grady, Krista, Ed, and Dylan Fink

My friend Dylan and his family know the importance of blood and platelet donors. At just 14- years-old, Dylan was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He’s in remission now, but that hasn’t stopped him and his family from paying it forward and organizing their own blood drives through the Red Cross.

Some cancer patients require more blood products than others. That was the case with Casey, who discovered she had cancer when she was ten weeks pregnant. She said, “Giving blood helps not just the person receiving it, by helping with their disease, but it truly helps that person’s family and friends as well.”

To find out more about donating platelets, click here. And, to schedule your appointment to give blood, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or download the free Red Cross Blood App.

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer