Can I Donate My Blood or Organs if I've Had Cancer?

Many cancer survivors want to help other people by becoming blood or organ donors. It’s possible for many people who’ve had cancer to donate, but it varies by cancer type, medical condition, and donation center.

Can I be a blood donor if I've had cancer?

If you’ve had cancer and want to donate blood, you'll need to make sure your blood will be accepted. Some kinds of cancer and cancer treatments make survivors ineligible to donate.

Cancer and blood donation

If you’ve had Kaposi sarcoma or a hematologic (blood) cancer like leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma, you won’t ever be able to donate blood or blood products.

For most other kinds of cancer, you might be able to donate blood if:

• You’ve finished successful treatment for your cancer
• It’s been at least 12 months since your treatment ended
• You’ve had no signs of the cancer coming back in the past 12 months

Some low-risk cancers, like cancer in situ (CIS) and nonmelanoma skin cancers that have been completely removed and have healed, don’t require a 12-month waiting period. Precancers don’t usually disqualify a person as long as they’ve been treated.

Can cancer spread through blood donation?

Some cancer survivors who want to donate blood may worry that they might give cancer to the person who receives their blood. There have been no reports of cancer spreading to another person through a blood transfusion.

More information on blood donation after cancer

The best way to find out if you are allowed to donate is to call your local blood donation center. Donation centers may have different rules or waiting periods.

Here are some resources with more information on blood donation:

American Red Cross

• Find the Red Cross chapter or Blood Services region that serves you. Check donation requirements and commonly asked questions.
• Toll-free number: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)

America’s Blood Centers (ABC)

• Lists local ABC centers for donating blood. The website also offers general information about blood, blood donation, and blood use.
• Toll-free number: 1-888-US-BLOOD (1-888-872-5663)

Association for Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies (AABB)

• Sets standards for blood collection and transfusion facilities. The AABB website has a blood bank locator and general information on blood, blood product donation, and transfusions.
• Telephone: 301-907-6977

Can I be an organ donor if I've had cancer?

Having had cancer doesn’t always mean that a person can’t be an organ donor.

Cancer and organ donation

Whether a cancer survivor’s organs can be used will depend on many things, such as:

• The type of cancer and when treatment ended
• If the cancer has returned or spread (metastasized)
• Other medical conditions (like infection)
• Age

Like blood donation centers, different organ donation centers have different rules or waiting periods. Most often, if you have cancer that is actively growing or has spread to other parts of the body, you won’t be able to donate. Even if someone isn’t allowed to donate organs, they may still be able to donate other tissues such as skin or corneas.

If someone dies and their organs might be able to be donated (deceased donation), a health care professional or donation specialist will first talk with the person’s family or health care proxy. If someone hasn’t signed up as an organ donor, their family or proxy must agree before donation can happen. That’s why it’s important that people share their wishes ahead of time.

Can cancer spread through organ donation?

While it is rare, there have been a few reports of cancer spreading to another person through an organ donation from a survivor who was thought to be cancer-free.

More information on organ donation after cancer

The best way to find out if you are allowed to donate is to talk to an expert. If you are interested in donating an organ or part of an organ to a specific person in need (living donation), you can talk with a member of their transplant team. You can also reach out to a transplant center or organ center if you are interested in donating anonymously (non-directed donation).

Here are some resources with more information on organ and tissue donation:

UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing)

• Runs the national organ donation system for the United States. The website has information about donors, donation, wait lists, and matching.
• Toll-free number: 1-888-894-6361

Donate Life America

• Allows people to register to be organ donors through RegisterMe.org. The website also offers more information on donation.
• Phone: 804-377-3580

Gift of Life Donor Program

• Allows people to register to be organ donors and provides more information about donation and the donation process.
• Phone: 215-557-8090

Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (division of Health Resources & Services Administration [HRSA])

• Oversees transplant hospitals, organ procurement organizations (OPOs), labs, and others involved with organ transplant. The website offers more information on organ donation and allows people to register to donate through organdonor.gov.
• Phone: 1-888-894-6361

Eye Bank Association of America

• Helps support and advocate for eye tissue donations and sets standards for eye tissue banking. The website provides information on eye banks and the donation process.
• Phone: 202-775-4999