Have a heart and donate for cancer patients in need

With thousands of cancer patients receiving blood transfusions every year, NHS Blood and Transplant is challenging people to make a date to donate to mark this year’s World Cancer Day.

On February 4, people from around the world will join together to dispel the myths around cancer for World Cancer Day.

Many people who develop cancer have a need for red blood cell or platelet transfusions during their treatment. Cancer patients may develop anaemia (a reduction in the number of red blood cells in their blood) or have a reduced number of platelets in their blood (the clotting cells which prevent bleeding). This can be due to the cancer or its treatment, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy. A blood transfusion can give a patient more energy and improve the quality of their life.