Discussion Forums > Thalassemia Major

Please Help Me Understand Thalassemia

<< < (3/3)

dani75:
hi Andy...

i read this article...

and i don't understand what you mean with this...:


why you mean that a thal. can't survived to adulthood??????????

now i'm 31 yrs old...

you mean that it's impossible for a thal...to be older than 40???

help me to understand...

thx


--- Quote from: Andy on June 01, 2006, 03:26:38 AM ---

Hi Delsia,

First thing I will say is that you should tell your mom she has been misdiagnosed. Thalassemia major is fatal if not treated and she would never have survived to adulthood if she was a major. It would be possible that she is intermedia or minor but we would need more information about her long term condition to give you some idea what it is, if it is thalassemia in one of its forms.

Where are you located? Your mom should see a hematologist who has worked with thal cases before. I can't believe a doctor would say major to an adult who has never transfused. It's just a case of speaking about something without doing the proper research into the condition. Let us know where you are and we can direct you to the proper hospital. I assume you are in the northeast US and there are many very good places to go for help. Also, tell us more about what symptoms your mom has had.


--- End quote ---

Andy Battaglia:
No, what I said was UNTREATED thal majors cannot survive into adulthood. If no transfusions are given, majors die at a very early age. Treated thals can live well into their 40's and 50's and maybe even 60's these days with the lifespan getting longer all the time.

dani75:
andy...

you know thal major patients...at the age of 40's or 50's??????...

thanks a lot for your answer...

Andy Battaglia:
I personally know a man in UK who is in his late 40's and doing quite well. At Oakland they care for many patients in their 50's. It is very possible with comprehensive treatment. And treatment is improving rapidly. Keeping ferritin low is of course the single most important factor in staying alive for thals.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page