Transfusion
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Patients with cancer often develop significant anemia, which traditionally has been successfully managed by transfusion. Although substantially safer than in the past, transfusions continue to carry a variety of risks. The recent licensing of erythropoietin now provides a second treatment option, which indicates a need to reassess the use of transfusion to manage anemia in these patients. ⋯ Careful assessment by hematologists and oncologists of the risk:benefit ratio of erythropoietin and transfusion in patients with cancer is urged.