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ANEMIA


And you thought you were done with pimples

Anemia is too few oxygen-carrying red blood cells (RBC) - hemoglobin - in the body. (Pronounced uh-NEEM-ee-ah)

Cancer patients often develop anemia from the disease itself, from treatments used to manage the disease, or from both. While killing cancer cells, many chemotherapy agents and radiation treatment hamper red blood cell production. 

You may be anemic if you: 

  • Feel tired all the time.
  • Feel dizzy.
  • Have a persistent headache.
  • Have pale skin or bluish lips, eyelids or nail beds.
  • Unusually irritable.

TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY IF YOU ARE EASILY FATIGUED, HAVE TROUBLE BREATHING, OR FEEL TIRED ALL THE TIME.

SAVE YOUR ENERGY – BOOST YOUR ENERGY

  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Cut down on unnecessary activities. Ask yourself “Do I really have to do this right now?” Maybe someone else would run the errand for you, beat the carpet, or vacuum the house.
  • Try to keep your sleep schedules consistent.
  • Change from a sitting or lying position to standing very slowly.
  • Talk to your doctor about taking iron or other supplements such as B-12 and folic acid.

WHEN ANEMIA OCCURS:

Many patients already have a low red blood count when they are told they have cancer. Anemia caused by cancer’s treatment usually develops about a month after the first chemotherapy treatment or radiation treatment is given. 

WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MIGHT DO:

-- Nothing. Your red blood cell count will probably improve about 4 months after chemotherapy/radiation ends.

-- Give you a blood transfusion.

-- Give you a drug (through a series of injections) to help your body produce more red blood cells.  Unfortunately about half of the patients given one of these drugs do not respond.

NOTE: If you are being treated for multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, chemotherapy may help reduce anemia. 

This page was last edited on 01/15/2004
Written by Rachael Myers Lowe, cancerpage.com
Clinical review by Connie Wienants, RN,OCN

Disclaimer - The medical information on this website is presented as an educational resource and should not take the place of advice and recommendations of your personal physician. This information may help you to communicate with the physician and other health care professionals involved in the diagnosis and treatment of your disease. Support groups and cancer organizations also can be an important source of assistance and support for cancer patients, their families, and their friends.
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