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  • #1

    Lost My Donor Status

    Hi all,

    I was getting phone messages in the last few months from our local blood bank. They are having a crisis, and I'm 0+ so an important donor. Anyway, I couldn't get back to them because I was always using up my free time with my own medical problems, and I suspected that so early since my diagnosis and surgery, they would reject me anyway.

    Yesterday, they called and I answered. I told them I was diagnosed with TC and they said that I can't donate. Not until 5 years after remission. So I'm looking at the end of 2011. She took me off the donor list, and added that I'm ineligible for life if I've had chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

    Losing my donor status is not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things, but this was a reality check for me. It was sad, because it was the first time someone said that I can't do something due to my survivor status.

    djm
    Detected mass 10-6-06, Radical left I/O 10-10-06, Stage I seminoma, 1.5 cm primary, No LV invasion, No Rete Testis Invasion... Currently on Surveillance.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Wow,
    I guess I'm out too. What a bummer.
    I wonder if this means that we can't be organ donor's as well.
    I can't remember if I was ever asked about that when I renewed my license.
    Stage III. Embryonal Carcinoma, Mature Teratoma, Choriocarcinoma.
    Diagnosed 4/19/06, Right I/O 4/21/06, RPLND 6/21/06, 4xEP, All Clear 1/29/07, RPLND Incisional Hernia Surgery 11/24/08, Hydrocelectomy and Vasectomy 11/23/09.

    Please see a physician for medical advice!

    My 2013 LiveSTRONG Site
    The 2013 Already Balders

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    • #3
      I knew about this, its because cancer can be transfused through IV blood but the chances are extremely unlikely.
      Aged 23 ;; 09/06 left I/O ;; Markers normal ;; 100% Seminoma Stage 1. ;; 10x8x16mm & 7x7x8mm ;; rete testis invasion. ;; no vascular invasion. ;; surveillance. ;; HRT.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by djmac
        I told them I was diagnosed with TC and they said that I can't donate.
        Are you serious? A few days back, I had a message on my voice mail from the Red Cross saying that they were having a blood drive right next to work, and they needed O+ (my type as well). I was thinking of going for a walk-in, but I never bothered to check whether I would be turned away. That sucks.
        "Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller
        11.22.06 -Dx the day before Thanksgiving
        12.09.06 -Rt I/O; 100% seminoma, multifocal; Stage I-A; Surveillance; Six years out! I consider myself cured.

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        • #5
          wow... i didnt know that.. i always donated blood during blood drives back in college. this sucks. guess i have to remove the donor sticker from my license as well...
          Diagnosed with TC in 6/04. 5cm tumor in Left Testicle. 80% Embryonal Carcinoma with interspersed Yolk Sac Tumor making up approximately 20% of the neoplasm. Finished Chemo 11/04. In remission since. Not sure what XBEP means but i did 3 cycles of chemo.

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          • #6
            The Red Cross's eligibility list mentions the 5-year deferral for cancer survivors, but nothing about chemotherapy (I have seen some blood centers with a shorter deferral time). It can't hurt to ask once you have passed the 5-year mark. I once had a goal to make a lifetime donation level of 50 gallons (I was over 5 gallons before my diagnosis), but 25 gallons seems more likely, assuming I don't get deferred permanently.
            Vinny (aka Frank)
            http://vinnysgotcancer.blogspot.com
            left I/O 1/5/05; 95%EC / 5% mature teratoma; stage IIIC
            4x BEP 1/24/05 - 4/11/05; RPLND (left side) 5/31/05
            VATS resection of teratoma from left lung 4/26/06
            Presently surveilling

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Vinny
              The Red Cross's eligibility list mentions the 5-year deferral for cancer survivors, but nothing about chemotherapy (I have seen some blood centers with a shorter deferral time). It can't hurt to ask once you have passed the 5-year mark. I once had a goal to make a lifetime donation level of 50 gallons (I was over 5 gallons before my diagnosis), but 25 gallons seems more likely, assuming I don't get deferred permanently.
              Vinny you are right,

              It varies by blood center. But I haven't found one yet where a blood tumor such as lymphoma or leukemia doesn't exclude you for life. Some have a 2 year deferral, others a 5 and some don't mention chemo.

              djm
              Detected mass 10-6-06, Radical left I/O 10-10-06, Stage I seminoma, 1.5 cm primary, No LV invasion, No Rete Testis Invasion... Currently on Surveillance.

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              • #8
                Blood donations that are not transfusable can still be used in research....another noble cause as fellow scientists djmac and Fed will agree....so you can check that out too. I've gone through many a bag-o-blood in my lab days....
                Retired moderator. Husband, left I/O 16Dec2005, stage I seminoma with elevated b-HCG, no LVI, RTx15 (25Gy). All clear ever since.

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Karen
                  Blood donations that are not transfusable can still be used in research....another noble cause as fellow scientists djmac and Fed will agree.
                  This is very true. We always find use for healthy lymphocytes in our lab!
                  "Life moves pretty fast; if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." -Ferris Bueller
                  11.22.06 -Dx the day before Thanksgiving
                  12.09.06 -Rt I/O; 100% seminoma, multifocal; Stage I-A; Surveillance; Six years out! I consider myself cured.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    In Italy only the CIS(carcinoma in situ) after years of complete remission.
                    Why?
                    right inguinal orchiectomy 12/19/2006 > nonseminoma, stage I >surveillance > 2/07 CT clean, 3/08 markers all normal>4/24 PET clean >2/1/2008 markers all normal, CT clean.

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Fed
                      This is very true. We always find use for healthy lymphocytes in our lab!

                      In Italy it could be possible?
                      right inguinal orchiectomy 12/19/2006 > nonseminoma, stage I >surveillance > 2/07 CT clean, 3/08 markers all normal>4/24 PET clean >2/1/2008 markers all normal, CT clean.

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