"Will You Be My Hero?" A Blood Donation Campaign for Cancer Patients
Approximately 25% of all blood donations are used for cancer patients. The Association of Cancer Warriors, highlighting that blood is a constant, not an urgent, need, is calling for regular blood donation. The association, together with the Turkish Red Crescent, is inviting people to donate blood for cancer patients through their campaign titled, "Will You Be My Hero from the Vein?"
According to data from the Red Crescent, 3 million units of blood are used annually in Turkey. A portion of blood donations is transfused during 'emergencies' like surgeries, traumas, or disasters. However, a significant amount of blood and its products are used in the treatment of various cancers, particularly blood cancer, as well as other blood diseases like thalassemia (Mediterranean anemia) and bone marrow failure.
There is currently no product or medication that can replace blood. The human body is the only producer of blood, which is a medicine for those in need. Therefore, there is no way to obtain it other than through blood donation.
Chemotherapy drugs are administered for the treatment of blood (bone marrow) cancers such as acute leukemias, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndrome, and multiple myeloma, as well as organ tumors. These drugs suppress the bone marrow. Due to this suppression, the bone marrow cannot produce blood and blood products. During treatment, patients need transfusions every 2-3 weeks. Without blood or its products, the cancer treatment cannot progress and may even regress.
A 470 ml unit of blood is processed and separated into red cells, plasma, and platelets. For example, a patient with acute leukemia needs an average of nine units (2.25 liters) of red cells or 36 units (a little over 1 liter) of platelets each month. During cancer treatment, a patient's life is sustained each month by the blood of an average of 18 donors.
Blood transfusions are also frequently needed in the treatment of many blood diseases like thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. For example, thalassemia patients need to receive blood every 2-3 weeks.
Giving blood does not cause any loss to the donor, while it saves the life of the patient in need, facilitates their treatment, and increases its effectiveness.
'We Cry When We Find Blood'
Aslı Taş, whose daughter with leukemia often receives blood transfusions, says, "When doctors tell us 'we need blood,' our only question is, 'what will happen if we can't find any?' And when we find blood, you just sit and cry. Because you know that blood contains healing. I pray for everyone who has given blood to my daughter. I hope everyone becomes a hero from the vein."
İrade Rızabeyli, whose son has been undergoing leukemia treatment for a year, is just one of many family members who have had difficulty finding blood. She has encountered people who gave up on donating blood because they were afraid during the process. Rızabeyli describes her experience, "Imagine you have a list. You try to reach out to people with that list. Every time a number comes up, you say, 'This time it's going to happen.' There are people who back out. Maybe they want to help, but when we call, they say they can't come or that they're busy."
'The Most Vital and Sincere Donation!'
Belma Kurdoğlu Akgün, President of the Association of Cancer Warriors, invites everyone who wants to support cancer patients to donate blood regularly: "People in society think that blood is only needed in acute situations like disasters, traffic accidents, or surgeries. However, blood and its products are a vital and real need for cancer patients. We say, 'Donate blood, save a life.'"
Internal medicine and hematology specialist Prof. Dr. Mustafa Çetiner says that blood and its products are a part of cancer treatment. One out of every three units of blood is used for cancer patients. Çetiner states that finding blood and its products may not always be easy: "We have to encourage blood donation in Turkey. We should do this not just for cancer patients but also for those with chronic transfusion-dependent diseases like thalassemia and similar conditions. Blood is the most vital, sincere, and free treatment. Blood donation is the most direct way to touch a person's life."
Some types of chemotherapy can damage bone marrow, reducing the production of red blood cells and platelets. Çetiner explains, "Aggressive treatments can sometimes lead to life-threatening infections or a risk of bleeding. Low blood counts are a significant side effect of cancer treatment. Some types of cancer can also cause internal bleeding or prevent the patient's body from producing blood cells. Therefore, most people diagnosed with cancer need blood and platelet transfusions."
"There Is a Need Even for Common Blood Types"
Pediatric hematology and oncology specialist Prof. Dr. Barış Malbora reminds us that children with congenital or acquired bone marrow failure, cancers, and thalassemias need regular transfusions of blood products. In stem cell transplants, the bone marrow is suppressed. Therefore, it cannot produce blood. These children need very serious amounts of blood products until their bone marrow starts working again. Malbora says, "Blood products are a constant need for us, not an urgent one. We must collectively break this misconception that it is only urgent. We know that some blood types are more common in society, while others are less common. Our donors with more common blood types tend to donate less. They might think, 'Someone else can surely be found.' Let's not forget that this ratio also applies to patients; the number of patients with these blood types is also higher."
"They Need Blood Transfusions for a Better Quality and Longer Life"
According to information from medical oncology specialist Prof. Dr. Mahmut Gümüş, approximately 200,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year. Cancer is now a chronic, livable disease. When we include those, we are talking about 500,000 people. Gümüş says that as physicians, their main goals are to extend life and make it of higher quality, and he continues: "Blood is of great importance to our patients. While we try to reach our goals with medications, we often need blood and its products. We meet this need from the blood of donors. Blood is life. Heroism suits life. We invite you to donate blood."
Women can donate every four months, and men every three months.
Dr. Metin Kalender, Director of Blood Donor Management at the Turkish Red Crescent Blood Services, says they receive blood donations through 18 regional blood centers, 68 blood donation centers, and 250 mobile stations. The Red Crescent meets 92% of the need, and university hospitals with temporary regional blood center licenses meet 8%. To avoid problems, the stock of blood and its products must be kept at a certain level. Stating that they collect approximately 9,000 units of blood per day, Kalender says, "Blood is the only medicine whose source is human. We always need regular blood donation. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 65, weighing over 50 kilograms, and who is healthy can donate blood. Women can donate once every four months, and men once every three months."
Source: Diken