Our sister site, Events OnTheWight, has listings of sessions where you can donate blood on the Isle of Wight. There are plenty to choose from over the coming weeks. This in from the IW NHS, in their own words. Ed
Someone you know with cancer may need blood transfusions will you donate blood?
Every two minutes someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer. More than one in three people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime and may need blood.
Blood vital for cancer treatment
Blood and its components are a vital resource necessary to treat those cancer patients who may suffer from anaemia and bleeding following chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Bone marrow which produces blood cells in the body can be adversely affected by chemotherapy or radiotherapy resulting in a low production of blood cells which can lead to anaemia or bleeding.
Some cancer patients require regular transfusions
Peter Gilliam, Lead Cancer Nurse on the Island comments: “A cancer patient may require regular transfusions, typically two or three units at a time, until their bone marrow recovers enough to make their own cells. We need more blood donors on Isle of Wight so we can continue meeting hospital demand for blood to treat a variety of patients. Please don’t leave it to someone else.”
For further details and to enrol you can ring our donor helpline on 0300 123 23 23 or visit our website.
