The prevalence of cancer-related anaemia, as well as its effect on cancer patients, was discussed at the 10th International Congress on Anticancer Treatment held in Paris on February 1.
Speaking at a satellite symposium, supported by Janssen-Cilag, Dr Peter Harper (consultant physician, Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals NHS trust) said that the most prevalent symptom in cancer-related anaemia was fatigue. Physicians did not often recognise the rate of occurrence or impact that fatigue had in cancer patients, and this lack of recognition could lead to undertreatment.
According to Professor Jeffrey Crawford (professor of medicine, Duke university medical center, Durham, US), who also spoke at the symposium, the primary treatment options for management of anaemia were blood transfusions or treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin. Professor Crawford highlighted recent trials that had investigated the use of erythropoietin and said it was hoped that accurate monitoring of haemoglobin levels before and during treatment of cancer patients could help to identify patients who would benefit substantially from either anaemia treatment or prevention.