Breast Cancer Chemotherapy | Chemotherapy Induced Anemia and its Aftermath

According to the report published by American Association for Cancer Research, patients with breast cancer may be developed anemia during chemotherapy treatment. Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments have less effect on anemic patients.

Fifty percent of cancer patients develop anemia, generally defined as a hemoglobin level <12 g/dl. The severity of anemia depends on many factors including the nutritional status of the patient, the type of cancer and the stage and extent of tumor burden.

The incidence and severity of anemia appear to vary with the type of cancer, the extent of the disease, and the myelosuppressive characteristics of the chemotherapy regimen. For example, the incidence of anemia associated with various treatment regimens for metastatic breast cancer ranges from 6% to as high as 98% for grades 1 and 2 anemia and from <1% to 80% for grades 3 and 4 anemia. Anemia is a common complication of myelosuppressive chemotherapy that results in a decreased functional capacity and quality of life for cancer patients. Severe anemia is treated with red blood cell transfusions, but mild-to-moderate anemia in patients receiving chemotherapy has traditionally been managed conservatively on the basis of the perception that it was clinically unimportant. This practice has been reflected in the relative inattention to standardized and complete reporting of all degrees of chemotherapy-induced anemia.

Anemia in cancer patients can result from many factors and the treatment must be individualized and accompanied by correction or management of simple nutritional deficiencies, underlying infectious or inflammatory processes, hemolytic diseases, occult blood loss, or hemolysis. The management of anemia resulting from myelosuppressive chemotherapy depends on its severity. Treatment options include crystalloid and hematinic treatment, RBC transfusion, epoetin alfa administration, or a combination of options. Platinum-based therapies, which are well recognized to cause anemia, continue to play a major role in the treatment of lung, ovarian, and head and neck malignancies.

Anemia is one of the most common and lasting side effects of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can also attack healthy red blood cells (RBCs) and negatively impact the body’s ability to produce red blood cells. A lack of red blood cells can cause anemia. Anemia places extra demands on your body and can cause excessive tiredness or fatigue.

Common symptoms of anemia include Extreme tiredness, fatigue, Lack of energy, Dizziness, Headaches, Diminished sex drive, Rapid heartbeat, Inability to concentrate, Paleness, Shortness of breath and Coping with Anemia-Related Fatigue.

The anemia developed during chemotherapy can cause feelings of tiredness and fatigue that may interfere with everyday activities and leave you feeling frustrated and hopeless. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of anemia. Seventy-eight percent of chemotherapy patients experience fatigue. The anemia developed during chemotherapy is treatable.

One of the major side effects of chemotherapy is Anemia. The doctor can determine whether the patient is anemic by taking a Complete Blood Count (CBC) test. A CBC test measures the levels, or counts, of the different types of cells in the blood. This test will show whether the red blood cell level is normal.

Some of the precautions when found anemia during chemotherapy treatment are:

More rest is required. The heart rate slows down more quickly at the start of a rest period and more slowly when continued to rest. Thus, several short rests give the heart more frequent opportunities to beat more slowly. This helps you conserve your energy.

As good food gives necessary heal, it is advised to take good food and fluids to keep the calorie intake. Anemia resulting from an iron deficiency can be treated with iron supplements. Anemia resulting from chemotherapy is not easily treated with dietary iron.