If anemia is causing symptoms or problems, you may need a red blood cell transfusion. Here are some examples.īlood transfusion.
How is anemia treated?ĭoctors treat anemia based on the cause and symptoms. If the test shows that you have anemia, you may need other tests to find the cause. In addition to anemia, a CBC looks for other blood-related problems. People with specific types of cancer or who are receiving certain cancer treatments may have regular CBC tests to monitor their health. Hematocrit is the percentage of blood that is made up of red blood cells. Hemoglobin is the iron-rich protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. There are several ways to check your red blood cell count, including measuring hemoglobon and hematocrit. The test results include your number of red blood cells. How is anemia diagnosed?ĭoctors use a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) to diagnose anemia. This may happen after surgery or if a tumor causes bleeding inside your body. You can lose red blood cells faster than your body can make them. These includes iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid. Your body needs nutrients to make red blood cells. Nausea and vomiting and loss of appetite may cause you to lose nutrients. Also, cancer that spreads to the bone or bone marrow may crowd out healthy red blood cells. Leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma damage bone marrow. So can radiation therapy to bones in the pelvis, legs, chest, or abdomen.Ĭertain types of cancer. Radiation therapy to large areas of the body can damage bone marrow. These drugs include cisplatin (Platinol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin). Also, chemotherapy with platinum-based drugs may harm the kidneys. This damage usually does not last and anemia often improves a few months after chemotherapy ends. It can also be caused by factors unrelated to cancer.Ĭommon causes of anemia in people with cancer include:Ĭhemotherapy. Anemia can be caused by cancer, cancer side effects, or cancer treatment. Damage to either the bone marrow or the kidneys can cause anemia.
A hormone from the kidneys, called erythropoietin, tells your body when to make more red blood cells. Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue found inside your larger bones. Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow. This type of care is called palliative care or supportive care. Managing anemia and other cancer side effects is an important part of your medical care and treatment. This includes any new symptoms or a change in symptoms.
Talk with your health care team about any symptoms you experience. Pale or lighter than normal color of the skin, nail beds, lips, gums, or tongue These symptoms can make it harder to cope with other physical and emotional effects of cancer treatment. Many people with anemia feel fatigue or muscle weakness. What are the signs and symptoms of anemia? This is especially true for people receiving chemotherapy. You can also develop anemia if you lose too much blood from your bloodstream.Īnemia is a common side effect of cancer and cancer treatment. You can develop anemia if your body does not make enough red blood cells or destroys them. As a result, they cannot work the way they should and cause problems.
When you do not have enough red blood cells, your body parts do not get enough oxygen. Anemia is when your body's level of red blood cells goes below normal.
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