Chemotherapy can cause anemia. Anemia is characterized by low levels of circulating red blood cells. These red blood cells are responsible for bringing oxygen to the tissues throughout our body.
I saw a commercial during my chemotherapy treatments for Procrit, a drug that can increase the body's red blood cell count. It showed an older woman running in an open area towards her grandson. I immediately thought to myself "I want some of that stuff!" I was getting worn down from my treatments and feeling very tired and had hardly any energy.
During a chemotherapy session I met a woman who said that she gets the Procrit shots. I asked her "how does it make you feel?" She answered "Well, I'm not running through any fields like that lady on the commercial." It was SO funny! I was LUCKY enough that my red blood cell count got low enough so I could try it. She was right. It didn't give me that boost of energy that I thought I would get but I think it just made me feel a bit more like my normal self.
Here I was looking for some fun! jeez.
1. Interestingly, the "modest" increase in hemoglobin makes a world of difference.
Quoting:
"When the relationship of hemoglobin level was plotted against overall quality of life in subsequent analyses, a sigmoidal curve was noted, with modest improvements in quality-of-life measures at a hemoglobin level of 8 g/dL to 10 g/dL, and a more substantial improvement with hemoglobin levels of 10 g/dL to 12 g/dL. Above a hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL, the quality-of-life measures improved, but, again, at a more modest rate, suggesting that a hemoglobin level of 12 g/dL or greater seems to be optimal for cancer patients in terms of quality of life."
A very good overview:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/425763
Posted at 9:57AM on Aug 8th 2006 by Michelle