675 get cancer patient organs

HUNDREDS of patients are receiving organs from donors who previously had cancer, according to figures.

They show that in the past five years there have been at least 675 transplants involving former cancer sufferers.

The figures will raise concerns that doctors are routinely having to use the organs because of a desperate shortage of donors.

An estimated three patients die each day in need of a donor organ and there are 6,500 on the waiting list, including 150 children.

Experts say organs from cancer sufferers are safe to use and they evaluate each case carefully to ensure there is no risk that tumours will spread to the recipient.

Figures from NHS Blood and Transplant, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, also show 1,698 patients received corneas from the eyes of cancer sufferers.

Professor John Forsythe, of the transplant service, said: ‘Organs from deceased donors with some current and past cancers may be safely used, with surgeons balancing the risk of using an organ against the risk of a patient dying waiting for a transplant.’

He urged the public to register as potential organ donors ‘regardless of their health status’, adding: ‘Please don’t let the fact you have a health condition or have had an illness in the past stop you from registering as a donor.’