Campaign seeks 2,000 platelet donors

DEMAND for platelets has increased by more than 50% in the past five years, mainly due to the number of new cancer cases, it was revealed yesterday at the launch of a campaign to raise awareness of platelet donation.

While around 22,500 new cancer cases will be diagnosed this year, the number is expected reach around 43,000 by 2020.

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service needs at least 22,500 donations of life-saving platelets per year, mainly to treat cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.