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Thalassemia - Frequently Asked Questions


Q: Which doctors treat thalassemia?

A: 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.

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Q: When is the best time to have a thalassemia test if I am a carrier?

A: The best time to have a thalassemia test is before you start a family or are at the start of pregnancy.

Q: My child has beta thalassemia major, can it be cured?

A: Yes it can be cured. Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) is the best solution for this condition..

Q: Which treatment is best: cord blood or bone marrow?

A: 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.

Q: What is the success rate for using Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) to cure thalassemia?

A: BMT can give an 80-90% cure probability, with 5% mortality rate and a 10% chance of refusal (leaving them thalassemic).

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