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Some of these symptoms are more serious than others. Color of skin, nail beds, mouth, and gums looking more pale than usualĪnemia can range from mild to life-threatening, depending on your hemoglobin level and the symptoms you are experiencing.Trouble breathing when doing things like walking, climbing stairs, or even talking (exerting yourself).Shortness of breath (trouble breathing).As your hemoglobin level gets lower you may have one or more of these symptoms: Having a low hemoglobin level before you had cancerĪnemia often starts slowly, so you may not notice symptoms at first.Certain tumor types (such as lung or ovary tumors).Certain chemotherapy drugs such as platinum-based chemotherapy (this is a certain group of chemo drugs).Some risk factors may make a person with cancer more likely to have anemia. Having conditions like sickle cell disease or thalassemia (inherited disorders of red blood cells).Red blood cells (RBCs) being destroyed by the body before they’re replaced.Major organ problems (including severe heart, lung, kidney, or liver disease).Missing certain vitamins or minerals in the diet because of not eating enough.Blood loss (this can be bleeding from a tumor, bleeding from cancer cells getting into blood vessels, or bleeding caused by other conditions like heavy menstruation or bleeding from a stomach ulcer).Cancer treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapy.There are many different reasons a person with cancer might have anemia. Anemia is a common side effect in patients with cancer. Hemoglobin is the part of the red blood cell (RBC) that carries oxygen to all the cells in your body. This means your blood has lower than normal hemoglobin (Hgb) levels.
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When you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells, you have a condition called anemia.
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