Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which doctors treat thalassemia?A hematologist and General Physician are usually the primary treating doctors. However, given the co-morbidities, a robust health eco-system will include a cardiologist, endocrinologist and gastroenterologist.
2. When is the best time to have a thalassemia test if I am a carrier?The best time to have a thalassemia test is before you start a family or are at the start of pregnancy.
3. My child has beta thalassemia major, can it be cured?Yes it can be cured. Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is the best solution for this condition.
4. Which treatment is best: cord blood or bone marrow? Best possible results, quality of care are with standard BMT. There is no strong evidence that cord blood is superior to bone marrow for treating thalassemia.
5. What is the success rate for using Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) to cure thalassemia? BMT can give an 80-90% cure probability, with 5% mortality rate and a 10% chance of refusal (leaving them thalassemic).
