Last Monday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services relaxed some of the limits that it had proposed in May for the use of anemia drugs in cancer patients, in the face of an outcry from cancer patients and their physicians.

However, CMS said it is still going to deny payment for drugs like Aranesp and Epogen from Amgen and Procrit from Johnson & Johnson if a patient's hemoglobin level is greater than 10 grams per deciliter. Physicians generally aim for a hemoglobin level of 10 to 12 g/deciliter in their cancer patients. Normal range is 12 to 18 g/deciliter.

Amgen is challenging this new limit, saying that such a limit will increase the need for blood transfusions. The company also noted such limits contradict the FDA's approved labeling for the drugs.

The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 16,600 new cases of myeloma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Bone pain is the most common early symptom of myeloma. Most patients feel pain in their back or ribs, but it can occur in any bone. The pain is usually made worse by movement.

Patients fatigue more easily and often feel weak. They may also have a pale complexion from anemia which is a common medical problem for patients with myeloma and may contribute to the fatigue. If the disease progresses, the concentration of normal cells in the blood may also decrease. Headaches, bruising, nose bleeding, gastrointestinal bleeding, and tingling or numbness in extremities are all symptoms of myeloma.

Patients may have repeated infections because antibodies to invading viruses, bacteria or other disease agents are not made efficiently of in adequate amounts. Urinary tract, bronchial, lung, skin, or other sites of infection may be the first sign of the disease. In addition, recurrent infections may complicate the course of the disease.

Green peas are bursting with nutrients. They provide very good amounts vitamin K, vitamin C, vitamin B1 or thiamine, vitamin A vitamin B6, B3, and B2 and lots if dietary fiber, manganese, folate, phosphorus, magnesium, copper, iron, zinc and potassium. Green peas are that little food that is supercharged with nutritional and can supercharge your health.

Green peas are one of the important foods to include in your diet if you oftentimes feel fatigued and sluggish. That is because they provide nutrients that help support the energy-producing cells and systems of the body. They provide nutrients that are important for maintaining bone health. With its great source for iron green peas build normal blood cell formation and function. Low amounts of iron can result in anemia, fatigue, decreased immune function, and learning problems.

Vicki's Green Pea Salad
2 cups fresh green peas. (You can substitute with a 16 ounce package of frozen green peas. Rinse and thaw them for use in the salad.)
1 cup chopped fresh cauliflower ( make sure pieces are chopped about the same size as the peas.)
1 - 8 ounce can sliced water chestnuts (drain and rinse thoroughly and cut into strips)
1 - 8 ounce container sweet grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes sliced in half
1/2 onion minced
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 teaspoon dry dill

Whisk together the lemon juice, dill, and mayonnaise.
In large bowl mix all of the vegetables. Pour in the mayo and dill dressing and toss.

Doctors prescribing anemia drugs for patients with kidney disease and cancer were urged by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday to carefully dispense of these drugs due to an increased risk of death and other serious problems, such as blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks in patients with chronic kidney failure and rapid tumor growth in patients with head and neck cancer who receive doses higher than recommended.

The potentially harmful drugs, sold under than brand names Procrit, Epogen, and Aranesp, are genetically engineered versions of a natural protein -- called erythropoietin -- that increases the number of red blood cells. The drugs, with combined 2006 U.S. sales of $10 billion, are commonly used for patients with certain forms of kidney disease and for those receiving chemotherapy for cancer.

The FDA is adding warnings to the drugs' labels that will strongly instruct doctors to use the lowest possible dose needed to help patients avoid blood transfusions.

The FDA will also take a close look at how the drugs are marketed, including claims the drugs can improve the quality of life.

A meeting of FDA officials to further discuss this issue, believed to stem from drug overuse by dialysis centers and oncologists who make more money by using more of the drugs. is scheduled for May 10. Recommendations could lead to additional revisions of the drugs' labels.

Called a special edition with a bedside manner, Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects For Dummies, is a free book made available to cancer patients and their caregivers with advice and tips on managing the side effects of chemotherapy such as hair loss, nausea, and weakness.

According to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, who is offering the book to those interested in receiving a copy, research indicates that while the use of current anti-nausea and vomiting treatments decreases the frequency and severity of side effects, 60 percent of patients still suffer from nausea and vomiting.

The aim of Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects For Dummies is to offer information about nutrition, meditation, support groups and other techniques that might help during treatment.

Written by a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a supportive care nurse, physician and a cancer survivor, you can order your free copy of Managing Chemotherapy Side Effects For Dummies online here.

Epoetin Alfa is a man made drug that treats anemia. It stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells. Chemotherapy can cause the levels of red blood cells to drop which in turn can cause anemia. Anemia occurs when the level of healthy red blood cells in the blood becomes too low. This can lead to health problems since red blood cells carry hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the tissues of the body. Anemia can cause a variety of complications, including fatigue and stress on bodily organs.

A study was done that showed that if oncologists gave the drug before the levels were to drop the patients had better quality of life after receiving chemotherapy. Patients with hematologic malignancies seemed to have a better sense of wellbeing and less fatigue if they received epoetin alfa before chemotherapy starts. The study was published in the October 15th issue of Cancer.