Research And Statistics: Who Has Breast Cancer
Breast cancer makes up about 30 percent of new cancer diagnoses in women. But the rate of breast cancer cases began dropping in the year 2000 and has continued declining since.
About one in eight women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at some point in their lives. Breast cancer can occur in anyone with breast tissue, but its much rarer in men than in women.
The disease is more common in middle age. About one in four breast cancer cases occur in women between ages 55 and 64.
Back Neck Hip And Spine
Common back problems such as sprains, strains and aches should not interfere with a marrow donation. If you have had a single back surgery more than 5 years ago, and have no ongoing symptoms, you may be able to donate. If you have chronic/ongoing back pain requiring medical treatment , chiropractic treatments, etc.) you will not be able to donate.
The following back-related issues must be carefully evaluated to determine whether or not you may donate:
- Single surgery 2-5 years ago
- Multiple surgeries, no matter how long since procedures
- History of fracture 2-5 years ago from an injury
- History of herniated, bulging or slipped disc in any location of the back
- Mild osteoarthritis involving the spine, neck or hip
- Diagnosis of scoliosis, if no history of surgery or if the rods/pins have been removed and you are fully recovered
- Diagnosis of degenerative disc disease
If you have significant back problems and/or any questions regarding your medical condition, contact your local donor center.
Canadian Blood Services Reduces Restrictions For Blood Donation
Thousands more people may now be eligible to donate blood thanks to recent changes to a number of Canadian Blood Services deferral policies and donor restrictions. The changes are an important step being taken to broaden the pool of eligible donors in the country. This year alone, about 100,000 new blood donors are needed to support the national blood supply.
The following notable changes are now in effect across the country:
Canadian Blood Services regularly reviews the criteria used to determine if someone is eligible to donate blood, including geographic and age restrictions based on new scientific information, says Dr. Mindy Goldman, medical director of donor and clinical services with Canadian Blood Services. These restrictions are no longer necessary. We estimate that about 3,000 people who try to donate each year but cannot will now be eligible to donate due to these changes.
Canadian patients routinely count on fellow Canadians to roll up their sleeves and do their part to help meet the demand for blood. Canadian Blood Services hopes that these changes will contribute to bringing more donors to clinics, enabling more Canadians to save lives.
The complete policy changes are available at www.blood.ca/en/blood/recent-changes-donation-criteria.
Canadians can visit blood.ca or download the GiveBlood app to discover multiple ways they can give life, assess their eligibility and to book an appointment.
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Eligibility Guidelines For The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross does allow some people with a history of cancer to donate blood. However, they must meet the following requirements:
- You must wait at least 12 months following the completion of treatment to donate your blood.
- You cannot have had a recurrence of cancer.
- If you are currently in treatment, then you are ineligible to donate.
The American Red Cross does make note that those treated for low-risk in-situ carcinomas like basal cell carcinomas or squamous cell carcinoma do not need to wait 12 months after treatment. Women who have had a precancerous cervical condition can donate provided their cancer was successfully treated. If you have ever had lymphoma or leukemia, or any other blood cancer as an adult, then you cannot donate your blood to the Red Cross.
There are other conditions and factors that affect donor eligibility. Read the Red Cross’s list of conditions that may affect your donor status.
Rich In Vitamins And Carbohydrates And Other Nutrients

Fruits and vegetables are an excellent source of carbohydrates, vitamins and other valuable nutrients. Many of them also contain plenty of fibre and are high in antioxidants. Their nutritional contents, therefore, make them a necessary part of our diets. Furthermore, this is why doctors, dietitians and nutritionists often try to push us to eat more.
For cancer patients, fruits and vegetables can help manage side-effects, bring back taste, or improve appetite. When juiced, they give at least some of their natural nutrients and if we are having trouble swallowing, we can make smoothies or creams out of them.
Beyond these everyday benefits, however, some research indicates that a diet rich in vegetables and fruits can actually be beneficial against breast cancer. We have put together a summary below for you to explore:
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Additional Guidelines For Bone Marrow Donation
Aside from a history of cancer, there are other guidelines for donating bone marrow. These guidelines are different from the guidelines for donating blood.
There are several factors that could make you ineligible for bone marrow donation. Typically, a potential bone marrow donor:
- Must be between 18 and 60 years of age. Often, registries will automatically remove donors on their 61st birthday. Bone marrow from people between the ages of 18 and 44 is used more often and is in higher demand. There is a slight increase in complications for donors who are 60 or older. And patients who receive bone marrow from younger donors often have a more successful recovery.
- Cannot be pregnant at the time of donation. Pregnant women may be on the registry, but would need to postpone donation until they are recovered from childbirth.
The Bench With Bedside Initiative A Patient
Are you curious about what happens with your blood sample after you donate? Do you want to know what the results of the research are?
In addition to cutting edge science, we believe that improving the relationship between the researcher and the patient is integral to the success of the study and ending breast cancer.
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Common Medications For Breast Cancer
If your type of cancer is found to be sensitive to hormones, you may need hormone therapy, which interferes with the body’s ability to produce or use hormones, in order to slow or stop the growth of tumors.
Hormone therapy for cancer is not the same as hormone therapy for menopause.
Hormone therapy treatments include medications called selective estrogen receptor modulators , which block hormones from attaching to cancer cells aromatase inhibitors, which stop the body from making estrogen after menopause and Faslodex , which targets estrogen receptors for destruction.
Removal of the ovaries or medications that stop the ovaries from making estrogen may also be recommended.
Biologic targeted therapy uses drugs that can alter the behavior of breast cancer cells.
Immunotherapy uses medications to stimulate the body’s immune response in order to recognize and eliminate cancer cells. Immunotherapy may be used for some forms of breast cancer.
Black Americans And Breast Cancer
The incidence of breast cancer overall is only slightly higher for white women than Black women, but in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in Black women. Black women are also more likely to die from breast cancer than women of other races or ethnicities. At least some of this increased risk is due to less access to follow-up care after an abnormal mammogram and lower rates of health insurance.
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Up To 30% Of Women Will Develop A Metastatic Recurrence
Up to three out of every ten women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer will develop a recurrence.
Help end breast cancer mortality due to recurrence
Participate in our blood drive Become a long-term member of our translational research team
We need 500 breast cancer survivors to donate blood and join our team. Take the survey below to find out whether you are eligible for the blood drive.
If youve had breast cancer within the last 7 years, you are not currently on chemotherapy and have not had another kind of cancer, you may be eligible to donate blood!
There are no borders for this event. If you can be at the event on November 16, 2019, it doesnt matter where you live. However, we are working out details to allow remote blood collection for our next blood drive.
Can Cancer Survivors Donate Blood
Categories:Cancer Survivorship,Survivorship & Helping Others
You’ve bravely fought your battle with cancer and want to give back, but can you donate blood as a cancer survivor? Ultimately, this will depend on the type of cancer you’ve had, the treatment you’ve gone through, and what organization you plan to donate with. Read on to learn more about blood donations after cancer treatment as well as alternatives to blood donations, such as platelets and tissue donation.
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Blood Donation After Cancer Treatment
Every cancer survivor’s ability to donate blood will primarily be on a case by case basis. Eligibility is ultimately determined by the type of cancer you had and the treatment you received. There are some types of cancer that automatically make you ineligible for blood donations. If you’ve had the following types of cancer, you are unfortunately unable to donate your blood.
- Leukemia
- Kaposi’s sarcoma
- Other cancers of the blood
Ultimately, having had any type of blood cancer rules you out from blood donation in the future. Although, if you’ve had a different type of cancer, there is a potential that you could be eligible for blood donation in the future. However, there are some primary criteria you must meet to be eligible for blood donation.
Chronic Neck Back Hip Or Spine Pain

Common back problems such as sprains, strains and aches may not interfere with a bone marrow donation. However, you are not able to join if you have on-going, chronic, significant pain areas of the neck, back, hip, or spine that:
- Interferes with your daily activities AND
- Requires daily prescription pain medication OR
- Requires regular physical therapy OR
- Requires regular chiropractor treatments
If you have significant back problems and/or any questions regarding your medical condition, contact your local donor center.
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Humane Society Silicon Valley
2013 was the year we launched the campaign designed to double your impact. Our first partner was Humane Society Silicon Valley . For each donor that came in during the campaign, we donated funds towards life saving medical care and vaccines for shelter cats and dogs. Stephanie Ladeira, HSSVs Vice President, Development, said, The enthusiasm
Two New Studies Suggest Diet Can Help Breast Cancer Survivors Live Longer
Mya Nelson
Mya R. Nelson is a science writer for American Institute for Cancer Research.
Can breast cancer survivors diets help them live longer? Two new studies both partially funded by AICR suggest yes. The research yields important insights into an area that has previously given inconclusive findings.
Today, more women than ever before are surviving breast cancer and that has led to increased research into how diet may play a role in survival. Breast cancer survivors are at increased risk of developing another breast cancer and cardiovascular disease, which increases risk of mortality. In 2014, AICRs systematic review of the global evidence found there was not enough evidence to conclude that diet affected breast cancer survival.
Some research conducted in recent years has hinted that a healthy diet can improve survival, such as these papers AICR has written about here and here. However, there is a critical need for more and better research, says Nigel Brockton, PhD., AICRs Vice President of Research.
Many of the estimated 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the US are eager for reliable dietary advice that can help them live longer, healthier lives, said Brockton. AICR funded this research to help provide some of those answers.
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Donating Platelets After Cancer Treatment
Platelets are the tiny cells in your blood that help to form clots and stop bleeding. The blood’s ability to clot prevents all of us from bleeding out too much from an injury. When an individual’s platelets are low, it can lead to severe or life-threatening issues. Low platelets are a particular concern for those who are dealing with cancer.
Overall, platelet donation is in high demand. Every 15 seconds, someone is in need of platelets. Platelet donation is also time-dependent as platelets must be used within five days of collection. Many cancer patients require platelet transfusions as part of their cancer treatment, specifically those receiving organ or bone marrow transplants.
As a cancer survivor yourself, it’s only natural that you would want to give back in the same manner that you were saved. However, the guidelines for platelet donors are similar to blood donation guidelines. Cancer survivors of solid tumor cancers are eligible to donate platelets 12 months after completing treatment and receiving a clean bill of health. Cancer survivors of blood cancers are ineligible to donate platelets due to the nature of their disease.
More Than Your Community Blood Bank: Altruistic Giving At Stanford Blood Center
In the Merriam-Webster dictionary, altruism is defined as feelings and behavior that show a desire to help other people and a lack of selfishness. Every day, donors walk through the doors at Stanford Blood Center that exhibit this quality. SBC tries to do its part to continue spreading good deeds by participating in activities
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Organ Or Tissue Transplant
If you have received human tissues, such as bone , ligaments, tendons, skin and corneas, you may be allowed to donate, depending on the reason for the procedure.
If you received any of the following types of transplants you will not be able to donate:
- Human organs such as heart, lung, liver or kidney
Genetic Testing For Breast Cancer: Brca1 And Brca2
In some cases, particularly if you have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, a doctor may suggest genetic testing for two of the most common gene mutations known to increase risk for developing these cancers: BRCA1 and BRCA2. Inherited BRCA gene mutations cause about 5 to 10 percent of breast cancers and about 10 to 15 percent of ovarian cancers.
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Breast Cancer Stages 04
Doctors use stages of breast cancer to describe how far along the cancer has grown or spread. Stages range from 0 to 4 . Each stage has further subcategories of A, B, or C.
Stage 0 The cancer is noninvasive and shows no evidence of leaving the part of the breast where it began. One type of stage 0 cancer is ductal carcinoma in situ .
Stage 1 The cancer cells are spreading to surrounding breast tissue, but the group of cancer cells or the tumor remains very small. It is usually easily treatable.
Stage 2 The cancer has begun to grow but it remains only in the breast or nearby lymph nodes. Treatment is not usually very difficult.
Stage 3 The cancer has begun invading lymph nodes, muscle, and other body tissue near the breast, but it has not reached organs farther away. Treatments vary according to the person and type of breast cancer.
Stage 4 The cancer is very advanced and has spread to several organs or other parts of the body. Stage 4 breast cancer is considered incurable, but women may live several years or more with ongoing treatment.
Donate Blood At Roswell Park

Our patients have a consistent need for blood products, and donors are the only ones who can meet that need.
Due the overwhelming community response, we ask that you donate blood by appointment only. Thank you for your ongoing support. Call or email Maria Turner at
Your blood or platelet donation is extremely important to our patients right now and we are grateful for your willingness to keep your regularly scheduled appointment. Please be advised that we have a NEW location inside the main hospital. Please view our Where to Donate page for more information.
Additionally, each visitor will be asked the following questions:
Depending on your responses, you may be asked to step aside for a temperature check. If all is well, you may proceed to the Donor Center as per usual. While this might be a momentary inconvenience, it is an extremely critical step in our overall COVID-19 response to minimize the spread of this virus to our entire hospital population, including our vulnerable patients. It is expected this new protocol should only take about 5 minutes.
There is no waiting period to donate after receiving the Pfizer, Moderna or J& J COVID-19 vaccines. Masks are still required inside the Donor Center.
If you have any questions regarding the visitor policy, please feel free to contact Maria Turner, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Donor Center .
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Eating For Breast Cancer Reduced Risk And Improved Survival
These studies are observational and both have limitations, such as recurrence or another disease may have affected what the women ate. The majority of the participants were also white, so the findings may not be applicable to other racial/ethnic groups.
Taken together, the research suggests that women diagnosed with breast cancer may benefit from eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables and eating less rapidly-digested foods sources, such as whole grains and non-starchy vegetables, says Brockton. This advice is consistent with AICRs 10 Cancer Prevention Recommendations that apply to cancer survivors too.
AICRs Breast Cancer Survivorship CUP Report also found indications that being physically active after a breast cancer diagnosis improved survival. The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee report found evidence that physical activity both before and after a cancer diagnosis improved survival among people diagnosed with breast and several other cancers.
To lower risk of developing breast cancer, AICR research shows that avoiding alcohol, staying a healthy weight and being physically active can all lower risk. Although research is unclear if these habits prevent recurrence. These lifestyle habits also lower the risk of heart disease.
Here is where you can read more about the research on breast cancer survival.
AICR Impact