Revisiting post-gastrectomy anemia with a brief survey among a group of Turkish medical oncologists

Purpose: Total or subtotal gastrectomy are performed as curative or palliative treatment in patients with gastric cancer. Anemia is a frequent complication of gastrectomy. Patients undergoing total or subtotal gastrectomy should be carefully monitored for the development of anemia and be given appropriate treatment when indicated. This survey-based study aimed to determine the level of knowledge about post-gastrectomy anemia in Turkish medical oncologists. Methods: The study included 110 Turkish medical oncologists that agreed voluntarily to participate in the survey and answer an 8-item questionnaire. The survey was distributed as a questionnaire during the 5th Turkish Medical Oncology Congress in March 2014. Results: All participants completed the questionnaire. Most of the participants would not recommend oral iron or cobalamin replacement after gastrectomy. Conclusion: The results of the survey indicate that Turkish medical oncologists have some knowledge about post-gastrectomy anemia, but need to learn more about appropriate follow-up and replacement therapies for post-gastrectomy anemia.