A 78-year-old man receiving anti cancer treatment was given repeated blood transfusions for anaemia and associated symptoms of breathlessness and exhaustion. Each transfusion gave him short-term relief but this didn’t last more than a few days. He had assumed his symptoms were related to the cancer but further investigations showed a functional iron deficiency, with Hb 79 g/L, transferrin saturation of 8% and serum ferritin 243 mcg/L. After two infusions of iron his transfusion requirements reduced by 80% and he was better able to cope with his anti-cancer treatment.
