NYBC calls for blood donations during Pancreatic and Lung Cancer Awareness Month

Oct 30 2010

Blood Donors, Blood Drives Aid Cancer Patients

November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month and Lung Cancer Awareness Month, and New York Blood Center (NYBC) serving more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, calls upon our communities to please join the fight against cancer by donating blood. Healthy people of all blood types and ethnicities are encouraged to donate and help save lives.  Blood donations are particularly needed from O-negative, B-negative and A-negative types.

About one in seven people entering a hospital needs blood.

Hospital use of blood products has increased due to surgeries, injuries and care of cancer patients.  Cancer patients may require frequent blood transfusions because treatment often destroys healthy blood cells along with the cancer cells.  Thus, in cancer patients, red blood cell transfusions to fight anemia and platelet transfusions to control bleeding are often needed.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women, and by far the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  It is estimated that 116,750 men and 105,770 women will be diagnosed with lung cancer this year.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States.  Because it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, the survival rate is poor compared with that of other types of cancer.  It is estimated that 21,370 men and 21,770 women will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year.

Giving blood today can aid cancer patients in their treatment and recovery.  Organizing a blood drive is also a thoughtful way of honoring or remembering someone affected by cancer.  Hundreds of these dedicated blood drives have been held by loved ones and hosted by employers, business organizations, community groups, and schools.

People can donate one pint of blood every 56 days.  Blood that is donated now and within the next several weeks will be used by patients who need it most during the busy holiday season.  

NYBC thanks every individual blood donor and the wide variety of organizations that sponsor blood drives throughout the year.

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive, please call Toll Free:  1-800-933-2566

www.nybloodcenter.org