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Abstract

Cancer-and treatment-related anemia affects many children diagnosed with a variety of malignancies. The incidence of anemia in children with solid tumors or Hodgkin’s disease at the time of diagnosis has been reported to be 51–74% (Hockenberry et al. 2002). Several pediatric studies report a high incidence of anemia (over 50%) requiring intervention with transfusion in children receiving therapy for Wilms’ tumor, leukemia, and osteosarcoma (Borsi et al. 1995; Green et al. 1998; Nachman et al. 1998). Although baseline hemoglobin values differ by age, gender, and type of cancer, a recent European pediatric survey reported over 80% of children receiving chemotherapy were anemic (Michon 2002). It is clearly a common finding at diagnosis and during the course of treatment for childhood cancer.

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Hastings, C., Feusner, J. (2008). Recombinant human erythropoietin in pediatric oncology. In: Nowrousian, M.R. (eds) Recombinant Human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) in Clinical Oncology. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-211-69459-6_24

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