How you can help: Blood donations and cancer patients

In October, South Africa adopts a focus on breast and other cancers.

Cancers of the blood – including a variety of leukaemia – are common, and feature as the top type of cancer among South African children up to the age of 19.

Most of these patients will need blood transfusion as part of their treatment, so the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is urging the nation to keep in mind the importance of having a sufficient supply of safe blood.

“Give often, give generously as it is not just the thousands of leukaemia cancer patients who need your gift of life, patients of other terminal diseases, gynaecological complications and accident victims are also amongst those who need blood transfusions,” said Vanessa Raju, communications manager of SANBS.

In leukaemia, cancerous cells are found throughout the body, in the blood or in bone marrow. There is no tumour or growth, making it sometimes difficult to detect and diagnose.

“As leukaemia attacks the body’s blood supply and interferes with normal production of blood cells – red, white and plasma cells – it is common for patients to have insufficient red blood cells and develop anaemia, or have too few of other kinds of blood cells. These developments make patients feel tired, breathless or be more prone to infections. Treatment requires boosting blood counts with healthy donated cells in the form of blood transfusions,” said Raju.

She said that many people with leukaemia often come to think of transfusions as a lifeline.

“Fresh blood invigorates them, and with new energy they feel enabled to keep up with severe demands of treatment and to maintain hope of defeating the cancer.”