Several local blood donor clinics coming up

April is National Cancer Month and this year in Canada, almost 160,000 new cases of cancer will occur. Many of these patients will need blood and blood products to treat potentially life-threatening cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

Canadian Blood Services forecasts 900,000 units of blood will be needed in 2008, with hospital demand continuing to grow by two per cent each year. That amounts to 17,000 extra units of blood this year alone. Patients undergoing cancer treatments are one of the largest blood recipient groups in Canada.

Platelets are a blood component used primarily in the treatment of cancer patients and play a vital role in the formation of blood clots. Four to five blood donors are needed to make one unit of platelets. Cancer patients may need up to 10 platelet transfusions every week and because platelets must be transfused within five days of donation, the need for blood is constant.

"We need 80,000 to 90,000 new blood donors this year to meet the increasing demand," says Jennifer Mayhew, clinic recruitment coordinator. "The average cancer patient uses up to eight units of blood and blood products per week. Giving blood is one of the most direct ways you can help patients undergoing cancer treatment."

Several donor clinics will be held at sites throughout the region this month. St. John's Presbyterian Church, located at 2940 10th Sideroad in Bradford, will host a clinic April 16 from 3 to 8 p.m. On April 17, the Innisfil COmmunity Church, located at 1570 Innisfil Beach Road, will host a clinic from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Call 1-888-2-DONATE to book an appointment.