| The following issues should be discussed with patients regarding the risks and benefits of therapy with an ESA for symptomatic anemia in patients receiving chemotherapy for malignant disease: |
- When used, the goal of ESA therapy for a patient with chemotherapy-induced anemia is to reduce RBC transfusion requirements.
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- The FDA has indicated that an ESA should not be given to patients who are being treated for cancer when the goal is cure of the cancer.
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- ESAs have been found to shorten overall survival and/or speed tumor growth in some patients with cancer.
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- ESAs have risks of adverse events, such as thromboembolism (ie, blood clots), so individual risk factors need to be considered.
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- ESAs are not recommended for patients with cancer who are not receiving chemotherapy, except in the case of patients with lower risk myelodysplastic syndrome.
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