Roswell Park Cancer Institute needs your blood

By Michael Mahowish

The Roswell Park Cancer Institute needs blood and platelet donations from dedicated donors.

Maria Turner, Roswell Park’s blood donor coordinator, explained that blood and platelet donations can be given at Roswell Park’s Donor Center. These donations will be given to patients who are undergoing:

  • chemotherapy – medicines given to treat cancer. These medicines, which kill cancer cells, are also toxic to the body and blood. Chemotherapy causes the blood levels of patients to drop to extremely low levels. 

  • radiation – usually used to target a tumor. Radiation destroys cancer cells, but will also harm other healthy cells. Radiation also causes blood levels to drop to extremely low levels.

  • surgery – used to remove cancerous tumors from the body. Surgery causes patients to lose blood. 

According to a pamphlet obtained at Roswell Park’s Donor Center, donations are used to save patient’s lives. Patients whose blood levels are dangerously low greatly benefit from blood and platelet transfusions. Blood and platelets cannot be created. They have to come from a living donor. According to the pamphlet:

  • donors must be at least 17 years old

  • donors must be at least 110 lbs.

  • donors must not take aspirin 72 hours before donating

Donations can be made as frequently as twice a month, 24 times a year. After the sixth donation, donors are given a free T-shirt, after the 12th, donors are given a gift card to Target.

Some donors, like Sue O’Hara, make it a habit to donate every two weeks. O’Hara said blood and platelet donations are important because they can save lives.

“I’m healthy and have a high platelet count,” said O’Hara. “It would be selfish of me not to donate to those in need.”

To schedule an appointment call 845-8282. The entire procedure is free and painless. The procedure takes about 90 minutes. There are no health risks to those who choose to donate.

For more information contact Michael Mahowish at S67kurt94S@hotmail.com or call The Donor Center at 845-8282.

 

 

 

A patient with leukemia receives a platelet transfusion.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute is a short drive from Buffalo State College.