Page 43 - Essentia Vol 5 Issue 1

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A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF ASSAM CANCER CARE FOUNDATION A BIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF ASSAM CANCER CARE FOUNDATION

bone marrow transplant can temporarily affect the What is apheresis? the ultimate high-
bone marrow’s ability to produce healthy blood tech donation
cells, even while these treatments are fighting
cancer. In cancer wards, doctors often refer to Single
Donor Platelets (SDP) or apheresis, pronounced
As a result, cancer patients may need carefully ah-fur-ee-sis.
selected transfusions over weeks or months.
They do not usually need whole blood; they need In a standard blood donation, one unit of whole
specific components. blood contains only a small fraction of platelets.
To provide a full therapeutic platelet dose for a
• Packed Red Cells for Anaemia: leukaemia patient, doctors may otherwise need
Chemotherapy can leave patients profoundly to combine platelets from four to five different
weak, exhausted and short of breath because random donors.
their red blood cell counts drop. Red cell Apheresis changes this. During the process, a
transfusions help restore oxygen levels and donor is connected to a specialised machine that
energy. draws blood, separates only the platelets or stem
• Platelets for Bleeding Risks: cells, and returns the red cells and plasma safely to
Leukaemia or intensive chemotherapy can cause the donor’s body.
platelet counts to fall dangerously low. Without
platelets, even a minor bump or nosebleed can A gift from one human to another
become a serious medical emergency. Regular Despite major medical advances, there is still no
platelet transfusions help protect patients from artificial substitute for human blood. Every life-
internal bleeding. saving bag beside a hospital bed is available

• Specialised “Irradiated” Blood: because a donor chose to spend time helping
For patients with severely compromised immune someone they may never meet.
systems, blood products are treated with a By donating regularly, we can help ensure that
safe dose of radiation before transfusion. This cancer patients do not have to wait for the vital
reduces the risk of a rare immune reaction and support they need to survive.
makes transfusion safer for vulnerable patients.

Although it takes longer than a standard donation, usually about an hour,
apheresis is safe and well tolerated. Its major advantage is that the patient receives a
full platelet dose from one donor, reducing exposure to multiple donors and lowering
the risk of side effects.

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