If you’ve had cancer, you might still be able to donate blood—but it depends on your cancer type and treatment.
You can’t donate if you’ve had Kaposi sarcoma or a blood cancer like leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma.
For most other cancers, you may donate if:
- You’ve finished treatment.
- It’s been at least 12 months since treatment ended.
- There’s been no sign of cancer coming back.
Some cancers, like non-melanoma skin cancer or cancer in situ, usually don’t require a waiting period. Pre-cancers typically don’t prevent donation if treated.
Rules vary by donation center, so call your local center to confirm. And don’t worry—cancer cannot be passed through a blood transfusion.
