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When And How Will Transfusions Cause Negative Effects?
My wife has MDS and needs transfusions every 6 weeks to keep hemoglobin above 8 - a level her oncologist has set. We were to discuss chemotherapy alternative but she fell and broke a leg in May and has been in a senior nursing facility since June. My wife keeps asking me what we can expect when she continues with blood transfusions rather than begin chemotherapy. Time and quality of life are her concerns. Our understanding is that eventually the transfusions will be toxic. When and how would this affect her is her question. Thank you!
Tue, 8 Oct 2019
Hello,
* As per my surgical experience, there are various transfusion reactions to blood products as immediate hypersensitivity, non hemolytic and hemolytic reaction as well as pulmonary injury depending upon the type of blood product and reactivity of host or donor antibodies as per the case.
* So far as chemotherapy side effects are concerned, that depends upon the molecule type with underlying mechanism of action and may include immune suppression, hair fall, vomiting, renal side effects or else.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Bhagyesh V. Patel, General Surgeon
* As per my surgical experience, there are various transfusion reactions to blood products as immediate hypersensitivity, non hemolytic and hemolytic reaction as well as pulmonary injury depending upon the type of blood product and reactivity of host or donor antibodies as per the case.
* So far as chemotherapy side effects are concerned, that depends upon the molecule type with underlying mechanism of action and may include immune suppression, hair fall, vomiting, renal side effects or else.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Take care
Regards,
Dr Bhagyesh V. Patel, General Surgeon
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