My father in law is 89 years old, has stage 4 cancer, is in renal failure, has a pace maker and has been given 3 to 9 months to live. He has had 3 blood transfusions in the last 3 months. The skilled nursing facility where he resides has said that his haemoglobin in down to 7.1 and they want to send him to the hospital for yet another transfusion. What am I to do? How low is too low for him?
Hello dear, thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. Stage 4 cancer is incurable, and no treatment is available. We can only give palliative treatment. Palliative treatment is consists of1. Palliative chemotherapy2. Palliative radiotherapy3. Nutrition support in the form of protein, multivitamin. Blood transfusion if hemoglobin is low.4. Painkillers. So if his hemoglobin is 7 then blood transfusion should be given.