Cancer treatments, and its related side effects, such as anemia, may cause numerous side effects that interfere with cancer therapies and make them less effective. If anemia becomes severe enough to interfere with cancer treatments and diminish effectiveness, its severity could compromise cancer care efforts and even diminish their efficacy altogether.
People living with cancer should undergo regular screenings and blood tests so that doctors can catch anemia early and treat it before it leads to severe symptoms.
Cancer and Low Hemoglobin: What’s the connection
Causes
Cancer treatments and cancer can result in low hemoglobin, commonly referred to as anemia. Hemoglobin is a protein in red blood cells that transport oxygen throughout your body; when its levels decline, symptoms such as fatigue and an increased heartbeat could emerge; severe anemia could even prove life-threatening.
Cancers that attack either the blood or bone marrow can often result in anemia. Leukemia and lymphoma, two forms of blood cancers, can impede how healthy red blood cells form in your marrow; bone cancers such as osteosarcoma or sarcoma interfere with this process by creating bone cells that create hemoglobin production from bone marrow stem cells.
Hemoglobin levels typically return to normal once doctors treat the cause, though severe anemia could impede cancer treatments or alter how well certain therapies work; so it’s essential that you talk with your physician about this matter.
Symptoms
Hemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen to your cells for energy production, known as hemoglobin. When its levels decrease too low, this condition is called anemia and many forms of cancer and treatment, along with certain chronic conditions like kidney or liver disease may contribute. Leukemia and lymphoma cancers that attack bone marrow often result in anemia as well.
Anemia, defined as hemoglobin levels below 8 grams/dL, can be life-threatening.
Full blood counts can help diagnose low hemoglobin. Your healthcare provider may also order a bone marrow biopsy to rule out blood cancer. You can try increasing your hemoglobin by eating iron-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables and beans; prune juice can also provide additional iron.
Your local health food store likely sells prune juice as an iron source. You could also ask your healthcare provider for supplementations of iron with folate or vitamin B12. The dose will depend on how low your hemoglobin is.
Diagnosis
Cancer treatments and cancer itself can both contribute to anemia. Mild anemia may leave you feeling fatigued; severe anemia makes breathing hard. Your doctor will identify anemia based on your symptoms and a blood sample; they’ll check both red blood cell count (RBC) and hemoglobin level as well as looking at cell health using microscope.
If your RBC and hemoglobin levels fall below normal, anemia will develop. Your physician will likely recommend either iron supplements or erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs), injection medications that stimulate red blood cell production in your body.
An anemia diagnosis often requires taking a sample of bone marrow – a fluid-filled sac in your bones that produces red blood cells and other immune system cells – for analysis by medical professionals. A biopsy also can assist them in diagnosing cancer that originates in this organ such as leukemia or lymphoma.
Treatment
Although some types of cancer may lead to anemia, its effects are usually temporary and should subside once chemotherapy treatment ends. If this symptom arises for you, speak to your physician about possible causes and treatment solutions.
Anemia occurs when your body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen around. Your bone marrow produces these cells, but certain conditions and diseases can prevent your body from producing enough or cause them to die faster than they’re created – these include severe anemia (low hemoglobin), chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis of the liver, lead poisoning and inflammatory bowel disease as possible causes.
Chemotherapies may also lower levels of erythropoietin in your body, a hormone responsible for producing red blood cells. Your doctor may prescribe erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) or RBC transfusions to raise your hemoglobin. A bone marrow biopsy may also help diagnose your type of cancer and suggest the most suitable treatments.
Types of Cancer that Cause Low Hemoglobin
Low hemoglobin levels can be caused by various cancers, including leukemia, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, lung cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, kidney cancer, cervical cancer, and gastrointestinal tract adenocarcinoma.
These types of cancers can cause anemia by destroying or preventing the production of healthy red blood cells. Cancer-related factors linked to anemia include internal bleeding from tumors, altered production of hemoglobin, and side effects of chemotherapy.
It’s important to note that low hemoglobin levels can also be caused by other factors, such as iron deficiency anemia, vitamin deficiency anemia, anemia of inflammation, certain medications, chronic kidney disease, cirrhosis, and bleeding in the digestive tract.
If you have any signs or symptoms of cancer or anemia, it’s important to talk to your doctor so that you can get the proper treatments. Various tests are available to diagnose cancer and check for low hemoglobin. These tests can help detect cancer and its related complications and help patients take the necessary steps to treat their condition.
How Is Low Hemoglobin Treated in Cancer Patients
Low hemoglobin levels in cancer patients can be treated in various ways, depending on the underlying cause. Some common treatments for anemia in cancer patients include:
- Iron therapy: Oral or intravenous iron is recommended to treat absolute iron deficiency. Iron replacement therapy can help increase hemoglobin levels and reduce the need for blood transfusions.
- Blood transfusions: Transfusions can help replace red blood cells, platelets, and other blood components. They are especially helpful when there is a need for immediate increases in hemoglobin levels.
- Erythropoietic stimulating agents (ESAs): ESAs are drugs that stimulate the production of red blood cells. They can be used to treat anemia in cancer patients, but their use is controversial due to potential risks.
It’s important to note that the use of erythropoietin (EPO) in cancer patients may be problematic due to potential activation of EPO-EPOR signaling pathways, which could potentially accelerate tumor growth and jeopardize survival in cancer patients. Therefore, the use of ESAs should be carefully considered and discussed with a doctor.
Other treatments for low hemoglobin levels in cancer patients may include addressing the underlying cause of anemia, such as treating internal bleeding from tumors, altering production of hemoglobin, and managing side effects of chemotherapy.
If you are a cancer patient with low hemoglobin levels, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for your specific situation. Your doctor may recommend various tests to diagnose the cause of your anemia and check for low hemoglobin levels.
These tests can help detect cancer and its related complications and help patients take the necessary steps to treat their condition.
