Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 6, 1995 TAG: 9508070110
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DALLAS LENGTH: Medium
Mickey Mantle was stronger Saturday after blood transfusions helped him combat anemia, and the Hall of Famer is expected to go home Monday from the Baylor University Medical Center.
Mantle, 63, sought treatment Friday for anemia brought on by his chemotherapy for lung cancer and remained in stable condition Saturday, his doctor said.
Dr. Daniel DeMarco, Mantle's gastroenterologist, said the former New York Yankees slugger's second hospital stay in a week was not a setback.
``We've already had that,'' he said, referring to the disclosure last week that Mantle's liver cancer had spread to one of his lungs. ``This is just a measure to make him feel better, and he does feel better.''
Mantle was in good spirits, but not eating much Saturday, DeMarco said.
``He's had two transfusions, both yesterday,'' DeMarco said. ``He's feeling refreshed, stronger. He was anemic when I sent him out last time, and I wanted to see how he did. He got tired and pale, so he came back in.''
Mantle was released from the hospital Tuesday after a five-day stay that followed a debilitating chemotherapy treatment.
The two transfusions should be enough, DeMarco said, but doctors will monitor Mantle's blood count to make sure he won't require more blood.
Dr. Joe B. Putnam, an associate professor of surgery at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, agreed that the reduction of Mantle's red blood cells is just a side effect of his chemotherapy treatment.
``Sometimes when the chemotherapy works to kill cancer cells, it can also kill red and white blood-manufacturing cells,'' he said. ``It's not an uncommon complication, and that's all there is to it.''
In addition to anemia, other side effects of chemotherapy include hair loss and nausea.
Mantle has not been nauseous in the last few days, and has had a little bit of hair loss, DeMarco said.
Mantle underwent a liver transplant on June 8 at the Baylor Transplant Institute after doctors determined that a malignant tumor had developed in a liver already ravaged by hard drinking and hepatitis.
His doctors have said they now suspect the aggressive form of cancer called hepatoma was in the lung before the transplant but was so small it was undetectable.
DeMarco said Mantle's new liver is performing as expected.
While his doctors have not given a prognosis for Mantle's survival, the hospital has treated other patients who have developed cancer after a transplant.
Dr. Goran Klintmalm, director of the Baylor transplant program, said earlier that some patients have not survived more than a year and some patients are still living eight years later.
Mantle, who lives in Dallas, replaced Joe DiMaggio as the Yankees' center fielder in 1951. He retired in 1968 with 536 home runs.
``He had a real good night last night,'' DeMarco said. ``He slept well. He was watching TV this morning.
``My deal with him is that I told him you can go home when you feel strong enough to leave. He decided to stay until Monday.''
by CNB