The blood donation fact most Australians get wrong

Cancer patients use far more donated blood than accident and trauma victims, prompting an urgent appeal for Australians to roll up their sleeves. Most Australians probably picture a serious car crash, emergency surgery or major accident when they think about where donated blood ends up.

Cancer patients are actually Australia’s biggest users of donated red blood cells and the Leukaemia Foundation and Australian Red Cross Lifeblood are using World Leukaemia Day to highlight how heavily thousands of cancer patients depend on blood donations during treatment.

New Lifeblood research found seven in 10 Australians believe people involved in accidents and emergencies are the biggest users of donated blood products.

But 34 per cent of donated red cells are used by people with cancer and blood diseases. By comparison, just 2 per cent are used for road incidents and other trauma.

For people living with blood cancers including leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma, transfusions can be essential during treatment.

“Over one in three blood transfusions in Australia occur in people living with cancer, including blood cancers like leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma,” Leukaemia Foundation CEO Chris Tanti said.

“For thousands of patients, donated blood, plasma and platelets are not simply part of treatment – they are a crucial lifeline that keeps them alive long enough for the treatment to work.”

One Australian diagnosed every 26 minutes

The Leukaemia Foundation estimates 20,044 Australians will be newly diagnosed with a blood cancer this year: about 55 people every day, or one person every 26 minutes.

Cancer and treatments such as chemotherapy can affect the body’s ability to produce sufficient red blood cells, while people with leukaemia can develop dangerously low platelet counts.

Platelets help blood clot and prevent bleeding, but donated platelets have a shelf life of just seven days.

Hospitals therefore need a constant supply.

Blood cancer patients use around two-thirds of Australia’s donated platelets.

According to the Leukaemia Foundation and Lifeblood, a person being treated for acute leukaemia may require up to 36 bags of platelets in a month. With four blood donors needed to produce each bag, providing that many platelet transfusions can require the equivalent of up to 144 donor contributions.

Without regular transfusions, some patients may be unable to continue treatment or could face potentially life-threatening bleeding.

Only one in 30 eligible Australians donates

Despite the demand, Lifeblood says only about one in 30 eligible Australians donates blood or plasma.

Lifeblood CEO Stephen Cornelissen AM said donated blood products were helping Australians through some of the most difficult periods of their lives.

“Because of the short shelf-life of platelets, we need a constant stream of generous donors to ensure hospitals have the blood products they need when patients need them most,” he said.

“Every blood donation could be the reason someone can continue treatment, avoid life-threatening complications, and spend more time with the people they love.”

Australians interested in donating blood or plasma can contact Australian Red Cross Lifeblood on 13 14 95, visit the Lifeblood website or use the Lifeblood app.

Anyone affected by blood cancer can contact the Leukaemia Foundation’s blood cancer support service on 1800 620 420.