People with myelodysplastic syndromes, conditions that could develop into acute myeloid leukemia, often have anemia, which is treated with blood transfusions. Jun H. Choi, MD, a hematologist–oncologist at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, notes that repeated blood transfusions can lead to a buildup of iron in certain organs and lead to other conditions, such as diabetes or liver damage.

“So you really want to minimize the blood transfusions, although it is a very important and necessary therapy option to help improve your symptoms,” says Dr. Choi, also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

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