Roswell Park needs your help to save lives

Maria Turner would like to personally extend an invitation on behalf of the Donor Center at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

She believes some people have never considered donating blood or platelets, because it’s not something they grew up seeing their relatives do. People see signs for blood drives in their communities, but they don’t feel compelled to make an appointment because they have never been directly and personally asked to give.

“Consider this me asking you personally to help,” says Turner, Marketing and Communications Manager of the Donor Center.

The Donor Center is located at Roswell Park's downtown location, on the first floor of the main hospital.

Platelets are blood cells that help form clots to stop bleeding. Patients who don’t have enough platelets can experience frequent nosebleeds, bruising, bleeding gums and more severe health complications. Low platelet counts also can delay necessary cancer treatments.

Your platelets can be given to anyone, even if you do not have the same blood type. Because your red blood cells are returned to you during the donation, you can give platelets as often as every two weeks. The donation process takes about two hours.

Whole blood is needed for patients who don’t have enough red blood cells, a condition that can cause anemia and weakness. You can donate whole blood every 56 days. The donation process takes about an hour.

“There’s an ongoing need, and some days it’s worse than others,” Turner says, adding that platelets can be stored only five days.

Donations go directly to patients

What’s more, all donations given in the Donor Center stay at Roswell Park to help our patients.  “We transfuse more platelet products here at Roswell Park than all other hospitals in Western New York combined,” Turner says.

If people donated more regularly, something Turner encourages, it would help keep a sufficient supply of blood products at Roswell Park to meet our patients’ needs on a regular basis. She’s grateful to the donors who continued to make appointments last year during the pandemic and those who have been rolling up their sleeves for years – even decades.

“Over the years when I’ve asked donors why they keep coming, they have said they feel lucky that they’re healthy and they know they have enough to give a little to someone else,” she says.

“When a person gets a blood transfusion, if they’ve been anemic, you can see the color come back into their face. They start to feel better right away. If someone is low on platelets, they can’t brush their teeth with a regular brush; they have to use a cloth, because the bristles might make their gums bleed. Getting a transfusion helps them get back to normal activities.”

Turner says she understands some people are hesitant to donate because of a fear of pain or anxiety about needles.

“Never in the 20 years I’ve been doing this has anyone ever said they donate blood or platelets because they like needles. No one really wants to have a needle stuck in their arm. But when you compare it to what our patients go through? It’s a few minutes of discomfort when the needle is first inserted. It’s nothing compared to what our patients endure.”

The Donor Center is open Tuesday through Friday, and every other Monday and Saturday — hours vary depending on the day. You are able to view available appointment times on the Donor Center scheduling website.

If you have donated at the Roswell Park Donor Center in the past, please note that the center moved recently. After coming through the main entrance of the hospital, turn right immediately. The center will be partway down the hall, on your left.