Our Iron Will: Prevention
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Iron overload

is the major consequence of adding extra blood to your system and this can affect the heart, liver, and endocrine system. Removing excess iron through chelation is a critical part of treatment.20

Iron chelation therapy

is more likely to be successful if initiated and tailored according to your needs and daily routine.23

Any treatment has both benefits and risks — and that includes chelation. That’s why it is key to make your doctor aware if you encounter any side effects that could be related to the use of your chelation drug.

It is always better to prevent complications, rather than to treat them. In general, prevention means sticking to your treatment. If you are prescribed chelation, do not miss a day of it.22

Managing the transfusion aspect of treatment can be challenging

Blood transfusion is the mainstay of care for individuals with thalassaemia major or sickle cell disease and prevents most of the serious complications of the diseases.
Keep up with a transfusion schedule is a big commitment, but it is your life-saving treatment.24
One of the main limiting factors is the need to interrupt educational or work sessions in order to meet clinic and transfusion appointments, which are most often during working hours. The process can take as much as an entire day, including getting to and from the clinic.
Reporting any issue to your doctor will help you work together to determine a transfusion schedule that works for you.20,22

There are several “common sense” things you can do to help prevent everyday infections:20,25

Wash your hands frequently

Cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing

Tend to cuts, scratches and other injuries by washing, disinfecting and bandaging

Try to stay away from sick people

Wipe down surfaces with antibacterial wipes at the gym or in shared work spaces

Don’t share personal items (toothbrushes, towels, nail clippers, etc.)

If travelling to other countries, drink bottled water.

Patients & Caregivers: in case of need to report an adverse drug reaction, please refer to your physician, asking him to fill in and submit the relevant case report to the concerned Health Authority, according to the Pharmacovigilance requirements in force in your Country. Nevertheless, please be kindly reminded that each patient can report any such cases directly to the national reporting system.