If your doctor prescribes an ESA, you'll be given information and guidelines from the Food and Drug Administration about the drug. Also, in some forms of cancer, the use of an ESA may be associated with a worse outcome. Some studies suggest that ESAs may increase the risk for blood clots because they correct anemia too vigorously. ESAs such as epoetin alfa (Epogen®, Procrit®) and darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp®) are synthetic versions of erythropoietin, a hormone produced in the kidneys that stimulates the body to produce red blood cells. Your doctor may prescribe a red cell growth factor or a blood transfusion for severe anemia to help restore your red cell count.Įrythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) are another class of drugs your doctor may use to improve your anemia. However, anemia can become severe if you continue to produce too few red cells. Most people with a mild or moderate decrease in red cells don't realize they're anemic. Fatigue or shortness of breath, especially with physical activity.Low numbers of all three blood cell counts is called pancytopenia.Patients with neutropenia are at risk for infections. White blood cells help fight infection.Neutropenia (a low number or neutrophils, a type of white blood cell).Low platelets can cause bleeding and easy bruising. Platelets are tiny blood cells that help form blood clots to slow or stop bleeding.Thrombocytopenia (a low number of platelets).Patients with severe anemia can be pale, weak, tired and become short of breath. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin which carry oxygen around the body.Anemia (a low number of red blood cell).Patients receiving treatment for blood cancer can develop This hinders the marrow's ability to supply new cells to the blood during treatment and for some time after. The Trish Greene Back to School ProgramĬancer therapy can lower your blood cell counts and chemotherapy especially can affect rapidly dividing bone marrow cells.
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