Organ transplants from former cancer patients deliver life-saving treatment

Data obtained by the Press Association has identified that hundreds of people in the UK have received life saving organs thanks to the generosity of former cancer patients.

The figures, from NHS Blood and Transplant, suggest a total of 272 donors with a history of cancer across the UK, over the past five years have enabled 675 patients to receive a transplant.

In particular, eye donations were a key area where donors were most helpful, with statistics showing around 70 cornea donations a week are needed to meet the demand for sight-saving transplants.

The news comes after health officials have voiced a desire to refute the ‘common misconception’ that cancer patients cannot be organ donors, despite there being many circumstances where is is possible.

Professor John Forsythe, associate medical director for organ donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “We are very keen that everyone, regardless of their health status, registers a decision to donate and tells their family they want to donate. We work hard to minimise the risks to recipients by carefully evaluating all potential organ and tissue donors."

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This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

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