Year-round, patients battling cancer use more than a quarter of the U.S. blood supply. This October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant urges all eligible donors to give blood to make sure an adequate supply is ready for every patient without delay.
Patients undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery may require blood transfusions to replenish healthy blood cells to aid in healing. Loucinda Davis depended on blood and platelet donations during her treatment for breast cancer, and on one occasion, her treatment was delayed a couple hours until the platelet supply could be restocked. She’s been cancer-free since 2016.
“Blood and platelet donation could be a life-or-death event for someone that is going through cancer,” Davis said. “A few hours of your time mean the world to those that are fighting for their life to survive! We are grateful for you!”
Donors of all blood types, especially type O are needed every day to replenish what is used to help patients. In an emergency, O-negative is crucial when there is not time to determine a patient’s blood type, and O-positive can help anyone with Rh-positive blood.
In October, all donors who make an appointment through the Vitalant app and donate during that month will be automatically entered to win one of five $3,000 prepaid gift cards. Download the Vitalant app to make an appointment, review recently updated eligibility requirements at vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).