The American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood to support cancer patients and other patients during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.
More than 1.6 million new cases of cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S. this year and 246,600 of them will be invasive breast cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Cancer patients may need blood products during chemotherapy, surgery or treatment for complications.
Mary Kay Huppert was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.
“I was a nurse for 40 years,” Huppert said. “I saw blood transfusions save a lot of lives.”
She received two transfusions herself while being treated for breast cancer.
The Red Cross must collect about 14,000 blood donations every day to help patients, and volunteer donors are the only source of blood products for those needing transfusions. Donors of all blood types are needed.
To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800- 733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to save time when donating.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities
American Red Cross Blood Donation Center, Liverpool Blood Donation Center, 7359 Oswego Rd., Liverpool, Monday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday: 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Cayuga
Auburn
- 10/25/2016: 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., Auburn Community Hospital, 17 Lansing Street
Cortland
Cortland
- 10/22/2016: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Faith Baptist Church, 1731 NY State Route 13
Madison
Canastota
- 10/20/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Canastota Veterans of Foreign Wars, 3835 Canal Road
- 10/24/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Grace Lutheran Church, 3965 Carter Road
Madison
- 10/19/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Madison High School, 7303 Route 20
Oneida
- 10/18/2016: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Oneida Health Care Center, 321 Genesee Street
Onondaga
Baldwinsville
- 10/21/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Christian Education Building, 64 Oswego Street
Brewerton
- 10/19/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Brewerton United Methodist Church Community Center, 5395 Orangeport Rd.
Camillus
- 10/17/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., St Michaels Lutheran Church, 5108 West Genesee Street
East Syracuse
- 10/24/2016: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., East Syracuse Free Library, 4990 James Street
Fayetteville
- 10/22/2016: 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., United Church of Fayetteville, 310 East Genesee Street
La Fayette
- 10/11/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., LaFayette Fire Department, Route 11
Liverpool
- 10/24/2016: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Bryant and Stratton College Liverpool, 8687 Carling Road
- 10/29/2016: 7:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., Northside Baptist Church, 7965 Oswego Road
Syracuse
- 10/26/2016: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., SU Whitman School of Management, 721 University Avenue
- 10/26/2016: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., SUNY, Upstate University Hospital, Community Campus, Broad
Road
- 10/26/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., SOS – Heritage Commons, 5496 E Taft Rd Suite C
- 10/27/2016: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., SUNY, Upstate University Hospital, Community Campus, Broad
Road
- 10/27/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., SU Schine Student Center, Waverly Avenue
Oswego
Fulton
- 10/18/2016: 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Granby elementary, 400 W. 7th Street
- 10/21/2016: 1 p.m. – 6 p.m., Fulton Alliance Church, 1044 State Rt 48 South
- 10/25/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Lanigan Elementary School, 59 Bakeman Street
- 10/26/2016: 12 p.m. – 5 p.m., Fairgrieve Elementary, 716 Academy
Hastings
- 10/24/2016: 1:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Hastings Veterans of Foreign Wars 8823, County Route 45
Oswego
- 10/17/2016: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Oswego Hospital, 110 West Sixth Street
- 10/17/2016: 2 p.m. – 6 p.m., Oswego Hospital, 110 West Sixth St
- 10/19/2016: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Oswego Elks Lodge 271, 132 W 5th Street
- 10/20/2016: 2 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., Oswego Community Christian School, 400 East Albany Street
Phoenix
- 10/22/2016: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., Enterprise Fire Company #1, 457 Main Street
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800- 733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for- profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.