Anemia

SheriH

Anemia

SheriH

I just read the article printed here at BCO about women who develope anemia during chemo who then have a higher incidence of recurrence.  I was slightly anemic before chemo, but have been significantly more anemic after chemo.  The article didn't mention if being anemic before made any difference.  Anyone have any thoughts about this?

bluesky

hi sheri,

this is very concerning to me, i too was slightly anemic when i started chemo in december 06 and my red count dropped a lot during chemo so i received arnesp shots every two weeks. it took

9 months after treatment for the blood count to go back to the way it

was before chemo.  just what we needed yet another thing to worry about, i'm trying to block it out and will talk to my oncologist about it at my follow-up in may.

acarr

Very interesting.  I had a recurrence approximately 8-9 months after I finished chemo.   About halfway into my chemo treatments, I became severly anemic and needed a blood transfusion.  I noticed in the article that the higher incidence of recurrences were local, which mine was.  I don't know if being anemic before chemo makes any difference.  I didn't have problems with anemia before, but have had problems with it since chemo.  -- Amy

SheriH

Thanks for your responses.  I also received aranesp during chemo and now 3 years out I still have monthly bloodwork and occasional aranesp shots.  I had a mastectomy, so I think a local recurrence is pretty slim, but then again, you never know.  I am planning to mention this to my onc the next time I see him, too.

acarr

Sheri, I had a mastectomy, too, but still had a local recurrence.  Just wonder if my anemic state during chemo played a part in it.

Pharmmom

I had procrit everytime I had chemo.  I guess (can't recall) i was a little anemic.  I don't take much stock in this study since I was never anemic til I had treatments.  Why would treatment induced anemia cause someone to have a higher chance of reccurrance?  Am I missing something?

Barb

LizM

I also had procrit during chemo.  I think it was after my 2d or 3d treatment that my oncologist ordered procrit since he said my bloodwork showed I was trending downward.  I remember that I was just below 12, 11.something everytime before I had chemo and then they gave me procrit the day after with my neulasta as I had dose dense.  I never had procrit or any problems after chemo nor was I anemic before chemo however I have always been borderline low.  I am glad it was only an increased risk for local recurrence, I would have really freaked if it showed an increased risk in distant recurrence.  I also had mastectomy and rads so my chance of local recurrence is low.