Donate your blood

Your blood or bone marrow donation could save the life of someone with a blood cancer.

Did you know that one third of donated red blood cells in Australia are used to help treat people with cancer and other blood diseases?

Blood donations are literally lifesaving for many people with blood cancers such as leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.

A 470ml blood donation is made of red cells, plasma and platelets, which are separated after donation. On average, one acute leukaemia patient needs nine units (2.25L) of red cells each month, or 36 units (just over 1L) of platelets each month.

An average patient needs 18 people to donate blood every month. The average treatment time for leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma is eight months, but it can last for years.

So, a great way to support a loved one and others living with blood cancer is to donate blood.

How to donate blood

To donate or learn more, visit the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood website or call 13 14 95.

How to donate stem cells

Becoming a donor is easy, just register your details on the Stem Cell Donors Australia website and a swab test will be sent to you. Once this is returned, you’ll be placed on the Stem Cell Donors Australia donor registry.

On behalf of Australia’s blood cancer community, please keep donating if you can.