Donating Blood

Anemia, a low red blood cell count and thrombocytopenia, a low platelet count are common side effects of cancer and its treatment.  Often, transfusions of platelets and red blood cells are necessary to support the patient during the treatment.  As with any treatment, blood transfusions are part of the medical expense.  However, these charges are special in that you can help defray those costs for patients.

You can replace the blood that a patient has used or may need by donating your blood or platelets.  This does not mean that your blood will necessarily be used by that patient but you are replacing the stores available.  This can be done a couple of different ways.

• As an individual, you can donate blood and ask the blood bank to credit a particular patient.  That will defray the cost of one unit for each donation for the patient.
• You can organize a blood drive at your school, church or place of business.  Again ask that the blood be credited to a particular patient.  This will credit the patient’s account for the total number of units obtained during the drive.

With either of the above options you are not only defraying some of the costs of treatment, you are helping the community at large to have blood available for those who really need it.

For more information about blood donation and blood drives contact your local Red Cross or hospital blood bank.