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Anemia

Anemia is related to a decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin (a protein that helps your blood carry oxygen). This results in your blood being unable to carry oxygen throughout your body as well as it should. Cancer-related anemia can be caused by chemotherapy, radiation therapy, iron deficiency, blood loss, the cancer itself, or a combination of these or other factors.

Your doctor or nurse can check to see if you have anemia by ordering a complete blood count (CBC). Anemia can make you feel fatigued or extremely tired. You may also have the following symptoms:

• Difficulty in thinking (cognitive dysfunction)
• Dizziness and weakness
• Shortness of breath with mild exertion
• Pale skin
• Rapid heartbeat
• Feeling cold all the time
• Loss of sex drive
• Depression
• Chest pain

Your health care provider can easily treat your chemotherapy-related anemia with drugs such as Aranesp® (darbepoetin alfa), which you receive every week, every second week, or every third week. Procrit® (epoetin alfa), another anemia medication, is given weekly or every other week. Aranesp and Procrit stimulate your bone marrow to make red blood cells.

Doctors will monitor use of such drugs to ensure that your blood count does not increase too much. In certain instances your doctor may want to withhold the use of these drugs and administer blood transfusions instead, related to warnings that have been issued regarding their use. The risks/benefits of using these drugs should be discussed with your physician.

Be sure to ask what your hemoglobin count is. If it is low, you may feel some symptoms of anemia. Many patients keep a record of their hemoglobin levels. The goal of your anemia treatment will be to raise your hemoglobin to a normal level, so any symptoms of anemia go away.

Talk to your physician to find out which treatment is best for you. Treating your anemia is important for your quality of life and to keep your chemotherapy treatments and doses on schedule.

Tips for Dealing with Anemia

• Eat small, nutritionally balanced meals every 2 to 3 hours. Eat foods that are high in iron, such as green, leafy vegetables and red meat. Your doctor may prescribe an iron supplement.
• Be as active as you can. At least 10 to 30 minutes daily of light exercise can help.
• Take short naps, but do not let them interfere with nighttime sleep. Balance activity with short periods of rest. Don’t hesitate to ask for help with chores so you can conserve energy to do the things that are important to you.
• If your red blood cell count is low, take your time getting up from a lying or sitting position. Getting up too fast can make you dizzy and cause you to fall.

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