Give blood to help cancer patients
Blood transfusions – lifeline for patients with leukaemia.
ABOUT one in six people will develop cancer during their lifetime.
In October, South Africa adopts a focus on breast and other cancers. This complex group of conditions is responsible for many deaths and a significant degree of illness in the country.
Cancers of the blood, including a variety of leukaemia are common and feature as the top type of cancer among South African children up to the age of 19.
Most of these patients will need blood transfusion as part of their treatment, so the South African National Blood Service (SANBS) is urging the nation to keep in mind the importance of having a sufficient supply of safe blood.
‘Give often, give generously as it is not just the thousands of leukaemia cancer patients who need your gift of life, patients of other terminal diseases, gynaecological complications and accident victims are also among those who need blood transfusions,’says Vanessa Raju, Communications Manager of SANBS.
In leukaemia, cancerous cells are found throughout the body, in the blood or in bone marrow.
There is no tumour or growth, making it sometimes difficult to detect and diagnose.
Raju says that many people with leukaemia often come to think of transfusions as a lifeline, fresh blood invigorates them and with new energy they feel enabled to keep up with severe demands of treatment and to maintain hope of defeating the cancer.
Raju concludes that concern about cancer is an important reason to donate blood as most people know someone close who has cancer.
Contact the Richards Bay SANBS at Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre on 035 789 3610
For more information go to SA National Blood Services website.
