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

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.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.All participants completed the questionnaire. Most of the participants would not recommend oral iron or cobalamin replacement after gastrectomy.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.