Frequently Asked Questions

A hematologist specialises in diseases of the blood, bone marrow and lymph nodes. This includes anemia, thalassemia, low or high platelet counts, bleeding and clotting disorders, hemophilia, and blood cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Dr Prakash Singh Shekhawat, DM Clinical Haematology, sees children and adults at Jaipur Hematology Centre and also heads BMT and CAR-T services at BMCHRC, Jaipur.

Consider a hematology opinion if anemia is severe, recurrent, or not improving with iron or vitamins; if white-cell or platelet counts stay abnormal; if there is easy bruising, unusual bleeding, or repeated clots; if lymph nodes or the spleen stay enlarged for more than a few weeks; or if there is a family history of an inherited blood disorder. Your physician or paediatrician can also refer you.

Jaipur Hematology Centre is at 24A, Chetak Marg, JLN Marg, Adarsh Nagar, Jaipur 302004, near JK Lone Hospital. Consultations are Monday to Saturday, 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM. The clinic is closed on Sunday. Appointments and online consultations can be booked online. You can also call or WhatsApp +91 96800 60923. On working days, Dr Shekhawat is also at BMCHRC from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Yes. Dr Shekhawat provides paediatric and adult hematology care, including childhood anemia, thalassemia, ITP, bleeding disorders, and childhood blood cancers, with transplant counselling when it is appropriate. Please bring previous reports and growth or transfusion records to the first visit.

Bring previous blood reports in date order (especially CBCs), any bone-marrow or biopsy reports, scan reports, discharge summaries, a list of current medicines, and your doctor's referral note if you have one. If the visit is for a child, bring the immunisation and transfusion record. You do not need to stop medicines unless your doctor has already advised that.

A bone marrow biopsy is a diagnostic test, usually done from the back of the hip under local anaesthesia, to investigate unexplained blood-count problems or to help diagnose conditions such as leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma or bone-marrow failure. It is not required for every abnormal blood test. It is advised only when the result is likely to change the diagnosis or the treatment plan.

In an autologous transplant, the patient's own stem cells are collected and later returned after high-dose treatment. In an allogeneic transplant, the stem cells come from a donor — often a matched sibling, another matched donor, or in some cases a half-matched (haploidentical) family member. Which option, if any, is suitable depends on the disease, the person's health and donor availability, and is decided after a formal evaluation.

CAR-T is a specialised immunotherapy used for selected blood cancers, mainly certain relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas, B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and some cases of myeloma. It is not suitable for all cancers and is not the first treatment for every patient. Suitability depends on the exact diagnosis, previous treatment and overall health. In December 2024, the first CAR-T cell therapy in Rajasthan was performed at BMCHRC, Jaipur, by Dr Prakash Singh Shekhawat.

A complete blood count plus a hemoglobin HPLC (or electrophoresis) can show whether you have thalassemia trait. Most carriers are healthy. If both partners are carriers, each pregnancy has a one-in-four chance of a child with thalassemia major, which usually needs regular transfusions. Testing is useful before marriage or early in pregnancy, and for relatives of a known patient.

A referral is helpful but not mandatory for a clinic consultation. You can book online for an appointment or an online consultation. You can also call or message +91 96800 60923, or email jaipurhematology@gmail.com. Please mention whether the visit is for a child or an adult, and whether you already have reports to review. Hospital procedures such as transplant or CAR-T, when indicated, are planned through BMCHRC after evaluation.

He follows a patient-centred model built on clear communication and shared decision-making. Patients and families are helped to understand the diagnosis, treatment options, possible side effects and follow-up needs, with input from a multidisciplinary hospital team when it is needed.

He has published research and reviews in hematology, oncology, BMT and CAR-T, including work on real-world CAR-T outcomes, transplant cost-effectiveness, APL management, neutropenic sepsis and telemedicine. He is faculty at national conferences and contributes to consensus guidelines.

Hospital care under the BMT and CAR-T programme at BMCHRC includes HEPA-filtered transplant units, CAR-T therapy infrastructure, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, intensive-care support, flow cytometry, molecular diagnostics, transfusion services and infection management, following written protocols.

A haploidentical transplant uses a half-matched family donor, usually a parent, child or sibling. Because almost everyone has a half-matched relative, haplo transplant makes BMT possible for patients without a fully matched sibling donor.

Yes. For eligible patients with thalassemia major, bone marrow transplant is an established treatment that can remove the need for lifelong transfusions. It is usually considered earlier in childhood when a suitable donor is available, so families should discuss it with a hematologist early.

Most patients stay in the transplant unit for several weeks while the new stem cells engraft, followed by close outpatient follow-up for some months. The exact duration depends on the transplant type and the patient's condition; your transplant team will explain your specific plan.

CAR-T is mainly used for relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and it is increasingly used for multiple myeloma. Whether it is suitable depends on the individual case.

No. A bone marrow transplant replaces the blood-forming stem cells, while CAR-T re-programmes the patient's own immune T-cells to attack cancer. Some patients may need one, the other, or both at different stages.

Many leukemias can go into long-term remission or be controlled for a long time. For example, most children with ALL do well with modern treatment, and many people with CML live near-normal lives on targeted tablets. Results depend on the type, genetic features, age and response to treatment.

A complete blood count and peripheral smear can raise suspicion, but leukemia is confirmed with a bone marrow examination along with flow cytometry and cytogenetic/molecular tests that identify the exact subtype.

No. Most swollen glands are caused by infections and settle within a few weeks. A node that is painless, keeps growing, or lasts more than 2–3 weeks, especially with fever, night sweats or weight loss, should be checked by a doctor.

Some lymphomas can relapse. Options for relapsed lymphoma include second-line chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplant and CAR-T cell therapy, which Dr Shekhawat offers in Jaipur.

Yes. For eligible patients, high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant remains a standard part of myeloma treatment and can deepen and prolong remission.

MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) is a common, usually harmless finding of a small abnormal protein in the blood. It does not need treatment but should be monitored, because a small proportion of people progress to myeloma over time.

For eligible patients, a bone marrow transplant, ideally in childhood with a matched or suitable family donor, is an established treatment that can remove the need for lifelong transfusions. Gene therapy is an emerging option. Others are managed with transfusions and iron chelation.

A simple blood test (complete blood count plus hemoglobin HPLC or electrophoresis) can show whether you carry thalassemia trait. It is especially useful before marriage or pregnancy. Read our patient guide on thalassemia trait testing.

See a hematologist if your anemia is severe, keeps coming back, does not improve after iron or vitamin treatment, has no clear cause, or comes with low white cells or platelets, jaundice, or swollen glands or spleen.

Iron helps only if the anemia is due to iron deficiency. Taking iron for other causes such as thalassemia trait can be unhelpful or even harmful, so get tested first.

Serious spontaneous bleeding is uncommon above 20,000–30,000 per microlitre, but risk depends on the cause and other factors. Any platelet count below normal with bleeding, or a very low count, needs prompt medical advice.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a condition in which the immune system destroys platelets. Many children recover on their own; adults more often need treatment such as steroids or newer medicines. A hematologist confirms the diagnosis by ruling out other causes.

Yes. Women can be hemophilia carriers with low factor levels, and conditions like von Willebrand disease affect both sexes and commonly cause heavy periods. Unusual bleeding in anyone deserves testing.

With regular prophylaxis and advice on suitable activities, many people with hemophilia stay active. Low-contact activities like swimming are generally encouraged; discuss your plan with your hematologist.

Yes. He provides specialised care for pediatric blood diseases including thalassemia, sickle cell disease, aplastic anemia, leukemia, bleeding disorders, ITP, immune deficiencies and congenital bone marrow failures, with comprehensive evaluation, long-term follow-up and transplant options when needed.