Anemia is an abnormally low red blood cell (RBC). Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein, the iron-oxygen to all parts of the body leads. If the number of red blood cells is too low, has parts of the body does not receive enough oxygen and can not function properly. Most people with anemia feel tired or weak. Fatigue associated with anemia, a person can seriously impair quality of life and make it more difficult for patients with cancer and treatment side-effects to be done. Anemia is common in cancer patients, especially those receiving chemotherapy
Causes
RBCs are made in the bone marrow (a spongy, fatty tissue found inside larger bones). A hormone called erythropoietin, made in the kidneys, tells the body when to make more RBCs. So, any damage to the kidney or bone marrow can cause anemia. For example:
* Some chemotherapy can cause the bone marrow to not work properly, impairing its ability to make enough RBCs.
* Cancers that affect the bone marrow directly (including leukemia or lymphoma) or cancers that metastasize (spread) to the bone can crowd normal bone marrow cells, including red blood cells.
* Platinum chemotherapy, such as cisplatin (Platinol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) can injure the kidneys, lowering the production of erythropoietin.
* Radiation therapy to extensive areas of the body or to bones in the pelvis, legs, chest, or abdomen can damage the bone marrow.
* Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite can cause a lack of nutrients needed to make RBCs, including iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid.
* Bleeding, as a result of surgery, or a tumor causing internal bleeding can cause anemia if RBCs are lost faster than they can be replaced.
* The body’s immune system response to cancer cells can also cause anemia, called anemia of chronic disease.
Signs and symptoms
People with anemia may experience some of these symptoms:
* Fatigue
* Muscle weakness
* Rapid or irregular heart beat and occasional chest pain
* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Dizziness or fainting
* Pallor (pale skin or lips)
* Headaches
* Difficulty concentrating
* Insomnia
* Difficulty staying warm
* Bleeding problems
Diagnosis and treatment
Anemia is diagnosed with a blood test that counts the number or percentage of RBCs and measures the amount of hemoglobin in a person’s blood. People with certain types of cancer or those undergoing cancer treatment known to cause anemia, may have regular blood tests, usually a CBC (complete blood count), to look for anemia and other blood-related complications.
If the anemia causes symptoms, the person with cancer may need a transfusion of RBCs. Some people with anemia caused by chemotherapy can be treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) such as epoetin alfa (Epogen or Procrit) or darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp). These drugs are forms of erythropoietin that are grown in the laboratory and work by telling the bone marrow to make more RBCs. Both are given as a series of injections and can take up to four weeks to start working. Learn more about ASCO’s recommendations for epoetin treatment. People considering taking ESAs should be aware of revised product labeling for these medications, based on emerging safety data. Learn more about understanding ESAs.
Your doctor may prescribe iron or folic acids pills or vitamin B12 if they find that lack of these nutrients has contributed to your anemia. Eating foods high in iron (such as red meats, dried beans or fruits, almonds, broccoli, and enriched breads and cereals) or folic acid (such as enriched breads and cereals, asparagus, broccoli, spinach, and lima beans) may also help.
Causes
RBCs are made in the bone marrow (a spongy, fatty tissue found inside larger bones). A hormone called erythropoietin, made in the kidneys, tells the body when to make more RBCs. So, any damage to the kidney or bone marrow can cause anemia. For example:
* Some chemotherapy can cause the bone marrow to not work properly, impairing its ability to make enough RBCs.
* Cancers that affect the bone marrow directly (including leukemia or lymphoma) or cancers that metastasize (spread) to the bone can crowd normal bone marrow cells, including red blood cells.
* Platinum chemotherapy, such as cisplatin (Platinol) and carboplatin (Paraplatin) can injure the kidneys, lowering the production of erythropoietin.
* Radiation therapy to extensive areas of the body or to bones in the pelvis, legs, chest, or abdomen can damage the bone marrow.
* Nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite can cause a lack of nutrients needed to make RBCs, including iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid.
* Bleeding, as a result of surgery, or a tumor causing internal bleeding can cause anemia if RBCs are lost faster than they can be replaced.
* The body’s immune system response to cancer cells can also cause anemia, called anemia of chronic disease.
Signs and symptoms
People with anemia may experience some of these symptoms:
* Fatigue
* Muscle weakness
* Rapid or irregular heart beat and occasional chest pain
* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Dizziness or fainting
* Pallor (pale skin or lips)
* Headaches
* Difficulty concentrating
* Insomnia
* Difficulty staying warm
* Bleeding problems
Diagnosis and treatment
Anemia is diagnosed with a blood test that counts the number or percentage of RBCs and measures the amount of hemoglobin in a person’s blood. People with certain types of cancer or those undergoing cancer treatment known to cause anemia, may have regular blood tests, usually a CBC (complete blood count), to look for anemia and other blood-related complications.
If the anemia causes symptoms, the person with cancer may need a transfusion of RBCs. Some people with anemia caused by chemotherapy can be treated with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) such as epoetin alfa (Epogen or Procrit) or darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp). These drugs are forms of erythropoietin that are grown in the laboratory and work by telling the bone marrow to make more RBCs. Both are given as a series of injections and can take up to four weeks to start working. Learn more about ASCO’s recommendations for epoetin treatment. People considering taking ESAs should be aware of revised product labeling for these medications, based on emerging safety data. Learn more about understanding ESAs.
Your doctor may prescribe iron or folic acids pills or vitamin B12 if they find that lack of these nutrients has contributed to your anemia. Eating foods high in iron (such as red meats, dried beans or fruits, almonds, broccoli, and enriched breads and cereals) or folic acid (such as enriched breads and cereals, asparagus, broccoli, spinach, and lima beans) may also help.
