Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia: Symptoms, Treatment, When To Get Help

Your blood is produced from special, quickly-dividing cells in the marrow of your bones. Chemotherapy treatments will kill some of your bone marrow cells, which results in fewer blood cells produced.
Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen throughout your body. Without enough oxygen, your organs and tissues will struggle to function. Before and after each round of chemotherapy, you will have a CBC to check on the counts of your red and white blood cells, and your platelets. When your red blood cell count drops below normal, you are considered anemic.

If your red blood cell (RBC) counts are low, you may have these symptoms:

• fatigue (feeling tired, low energy)
• dizziness, weakness, or light-headedness
• skin may become pale
• chills
• shortness of breath

Severe cases of anemia may have these symptoms:

• chest pains
• heart palpitations
• low blood pressure
• extreme weakness (may need help walking)
• rapid breathing, panting
• blue fingernails

Keep a log of all of your symptoms. Note the dates and times you experience them, and rank the severity of each symptom (example: 1 = mild, 10 = severe). If you experience any symptoms of anemia, call your doctor. If you have these symptoms in particular, call for an appointment as soon as possible:

• fever of 100.5 degrees or greater
• fatigue that persists or worsens despite resting
• confusion/disorientation (you can’t think straight)
• breathlessness or rapid pulse after slight activity

To get a clear diagnosis of chemo-induced anemia, you will need to have a complete blood count (CBC) to check your red blood cells and hemoglobin.

If your red blood cell count is not dramatically low, you can be treated with injections of a growth factor, such as Procrit or Aranesp. If your cell counts don’t respond to the treatments, you may need a blood transfusion.

In addition to medical treatments for chemotherapy-induced anemia, taking good care of yourself can help speed your recovery. Here are some self-care tips:

• Take short rests or naps.
• Prioritize your day to save your energy.
• Work on tasks in small bursts -- don’t do everything at once.
• Ask for help with tasks that you can delegate.
• Eat well, being sure to include protein in your diet.
• Drink 8 or 10 glasses of water daily.
• Engage in gentle exercise, as you feel able.

_{Source:
American Cancer Society. How Will Chemotherapy Affect My Blood Cell Count? Last Updated: 05/01/2004.}