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# Malignancy - Whole blood and components

## Essential information

Obligatory

  Must not donate.

Discretionary
  1. If this was a non-metastasised basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer) and local treatment is completed and all wounds are healed, accept. If any systemic medical treatment was required and has been completed at least 24 months previously, accept.
  2. 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.
  3. If the potential donor has been cured of a carcinoma in situ (CIS) and discharged from follow-up, accept. Donors who have been returned to screening following treatment for CIS can be accepted.
  4. Examples of CIS include cervical or vulval CIS, ductal CIS of the breast (DCIS), prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) and squamous cell CIS of the skin (also known as intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma or Bowen's disease).
  5. If the potential donor has had a diagnosis of melanoma in situ (including lentigo maligna), refer to Designated Clinical Support Officer to confirm they have not had an invasive melanoma (e.g. lentigo maligna melanoma). Donors who have already been cleared by a Designated Clinical Support Officer can be accepted.
  6. 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), or on routine follow-up, accept.

## Supporting information

See if relevant
  - Haematological disease
  - Surgery
  - Cervical dysplasia
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.

  Basal cell carcinoma (rodent ulcer) does not spread through the blood, therefore people who have had successful treatment may donate.

  The term carcinoma in situ (CIS) refers to a group of abnormal cells which have not invaded deeper tissue or spread to another part of the body. Donors who have been cured and discharged from follow-up may donate. For cervical CIS, donors can be accepted if treatment is complete and any follow-up smear, if performed, 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.

  Melanoma in situ which has been cured by excision is not associated with a risk of metastasis. Patients with a confirmed diagnosis of melanoma in situ (i.e. Breslow thickness of 0 and no regression) do not require ongoing follow-up beyond the initial post-operative appointment.

  Lentigo maligna is a form of melanoma in situ found on the head and neck. It should be distinguished from lentigo maligna melanoma which is a true malignant melanoma.

Regulatory information

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

Reason for change:
  Addition of the terms squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the skin and intraepidermal squamous cell carcinoma.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 61 (22 February 2022)

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