Cancerbackup: Blood & platelet transfusions

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Blood & platelet transfusions Q&As

8 items found in this section.

1. My mum has cancer of the pancreas which has spread to her liver. She can't decide whether to have chemotherapy or not. Can you help?

last reviewed: 09.10.2006

2. Why do I need platelet transfusions during my chemotherapy for leukaemia?

last reviewed: 21.08.2007

3. Why do I need to take allopurinol when I start my chemotherapy for leukaemia?

last reviewed: 21.08.2007

4. I am having treatment for leukaemia. I recently needed a blood transfusion and noticed it was irradiated. Why was I given irradiated blood?

last reviewed: 21.08.2007

5. My wife is having too many blood transfusions during her chemotherapy for AML. I'm worried that she may catch something like AIDS from the blood and want to give her mine.

last reviewed: 01.01.2005

6. I have a cancer which has made me anaemic. My doctor has suggested a blood transfusion. If I agree to this, can I have more transfusions in the future if I need them?

last reviewed: 27.01.2005

7. I have cancer and have become anaemic. My doctor has suggested a blood transfusion but I have heard that people have developed HIV and other infections after blood transfusions. What should I do?

last reviewed: 27.01.2005

8. I have a non-small cell lung cancer. My specialist says it isn't operable but he has mentioned chemotherapy. I'm not sure about this. What would happen if I don't have treatment?

last reviewed: 06.06.2007

All Q&As are selected from some of the thousands asked by people contacting Cancerbackup every year. They are answered by specialists and reviewed and updated regularly.


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