Blood is one of the most important aspects of the human body. Blood plays a vital role in transmitting oxygen and nutrients. It also has the ability to fight infections. Not everyone has the same blood type. As a result of genetic mutations, each of us has different blood types. Our blood carries properties that can be shared with others whose blood supply may be low or unhealthy due to certain medical conditions, injury or surgeries. The American Red Cross says nearly 21 million blood components, such as plasma, white blood, red blood cells, and platelets, are transfused each year in the U.S
Blood for Cancer Patients
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and other drug treatments can cause low blood cell counts and may lead to the need for blood transfusions. Cancer surgery can lead to blood loss, and Leukemia type of blood cancer may prevent the production of healthy blood cells. There are many reasons for cancer patients to get blood transfusions.
Many cancer patients need blood transfusions to save their lives, but many feel uncomfortable in getting transfusions for the following reasons
- Some patients may refuse blood transfusions for religious reasons
- Some part of the world, people don’t have access to receive transfusions
- Many worries about being infected from the blood
Many hospitals have developed bloodless medicine to treat patients who have cancer and other diseases. Bloodless medicine programs help patients preserve and fortify their blood supply. It replaces or reduces the need for transfusion depending upon the health condition of the patients.
What Is Bloodless Medicine?
Bloodless medicine is an alternative and effective method for blood transfusions. Bloodless medicine allows patients to refuse blood transfusions by offering strategies and techniques that are designed to reduce blood loss.
- Ensures that the patient loses a little blood; during the program or before and after surgery.
- Generating red blood cells and managing anemia through nutrition, supplements.
- Blood loss during surgery to be recycled.
- Identifying the reason for blood loss.
- Inducing drugs that may help slow bleeding during surgery.
Benefits
Bloodless medicine programs are being established in hospitals worldwide. A bloodless medicine program is an effective alternative to blood transfusions, and it may have these benefits.
Improved outcome– Patients may have strokes and heart attacks, but overall it has a more positive outcome
Reactions– For some patients, it can cause allergic reactions and fever
Cost– Bloodless medicine is more expensive than traditional blood infusion.
Patients can talk to their doctors regarding their concerns and options available before opting for bloodless medicine programs.
