JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Malignancy

Obligatory

Must not donate.

Discretionary

a) If this was a non metastasized basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer) and local treatment is completed and all wounds are healed, and any systemic medical treatment has been completed at least 24 months previously, accept.

b) If the potential donor has a non haematological (non-clonal) premalignant condition (e.g. polyposis coli or Barrett's oesophagus) that is being regularly monitored, or has had a similar condition cured and has been discharged from follow-up, accept.

c) If the potential donor has a carcinoma in situ (e.g. cervical or vulval carcinoma in situ, ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast DCIS, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia PIN or Bowen's disease) that has been cured and has been discharged from follow-up, accept.

d) If the potential donor has had lentigo maligna refer to clinical support to ensure that they have not had lentigo maligna melanoma.

e) Potential donors with a high risk of cancer due to family history or following genetic tests, even if had or having prophylactic surgery or on prophylactic medication (e.g. Tamoxifen), accept.

See if Relevant

Haematological Disease
Surgery

Additional Information

Many malignancies spread through the blood stream and by invading surrounding tissues. Viruses that can be spread by blood and tissue donation can also cause some malignancies. For these reasons it is considered safer not to accept blood from people who have had a malignancy. However, because basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer) and other Carcinomas in situ do not spread through the blood, people who have had successful treatment may donate. Cervical carcinoma in situ would be defined as cured if treatment is complete and a follow up smear did not show abnormal cells. Regular screening smears are not defined as follow up.

Premalignant conditions are very common, particularly in older donors. Regular monitoring should prevent donors with invasive malignancy from being accepted. Clonal blood disorders are dealt with differently - see Haematological Disease.

Lentigo Maligna is a common skin condition of the elderly and should be considered a carcinoma in situ and the donor may be accepted once it has been cured. However Lentigo Maligna melanoma is a true malignant melanoma and the donor must be permanently deferred if they have had this condition.

Information

This is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Reason for change

Advice has been added for basal cell carcinoma treated systemically 

Donor Information

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Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 28.