1. Erythropoietin Injections
Erythropoietin is the hormone produced in your kidneys that stimulates red blood cell creation in the bone marrow. Cancer and its treatments can often suppress this production, leaving you tired from a lack of the oxygen-carrying cells. One way to treat the problem is to artificially add erythropoietin to your system with injections of drugs like epoetin or darbepoetin. This is typically quite effective with few side effects. The treatment appears to reduce the need for blood transfusions in cancer patients.
2. A Blood Transfusion May Be Required
When the bone marrow is completely infiltrated by cancerous cells or the blood making processes are seriously inhibited, you may need a total blood transfusion to regain red blood cells. This can potentially save your life, but there are a few risks involved. These include contracting infectious diseases like Hepatitis or HIV if contained in the new blood, and the possibility that your body will reject and attack the new blood. This can usually be controlled with immunosuppressant drugs.
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About this Author
Amber Nelson has covered diabetes and stroke prevention, stress management and the effects of sleep deprivation for InfoSearch Media in addition to writing extensively on credit, investment and mortgage issues for HomeLoanBasics.com. A new mother herself, Nelson has a special interest in women’s health issues and reproductive conditions.
