Anemia and Leukemia are both conditions that affect the production of blood cells and bone marrow. While anemia can not cause leukemia, research has shown that leukemia can make you more likely to develop anemia.
If you have leukemia and experience symptoms such as extreme fatigue, dizziness, or paleness, you may also have anemia. Anemia is a condition in which you have unusually low levels of red blood cells.
Leukemia occurs when cancerous blood cells form in your bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells.
There is no evidence that anemia can cause leukemia. However, leukemia can make you more likely to develop anemia. Read on to learn more about the connection
Some types of leukemia are acute and progress quickly, while others are chronic and grow slowly.
The
- a wide variety of drugs and chemicals
- ionizing radiation
- some viruses
- an autoimmune disorder
It may also be linked to leukemia and cancer treatments.
Leukemia itself
Cancer treatments may cause decreased appetite, nausea, and vomiting. This often makes it difficult to eat a nutritious, iron-rich diet, which may lead to iron-deficiency anemia.
Anemia can result in 1 or more of the following symptoms:
Your body may not have enough red blood cells for a number of reasons. This includes not making enough to begin with or even destroying the red blood cells that you do have. You can also lose red blood cells
If you have leukemia, both the disease itself and the treatments for it may cause you to develop anemia.
Chemotherapy, radiation, and certain drugs used to treat leukemia may cause aplastic anemia. This is because some cancer therapies can prevent bone marrow from making new and healthy blood cells.
White blood cell counts drop first, followed by platelet counts, and finally, red blood cell counts. Anemia caused by cancer treatments may be reversible after treatment ends or may last for several weeks.
If a doctor thinks you have anemia, they’ll typically order blood tests to check your blood counts, including white blood cells, red blood cells (hemoglobin), and platelets.
They may also order a bone marrow biopsy. During this procedure, a small sample of bone marrow is removed from a large bone, such as your hipbone. The sample is examined to confirm an anemia diagnosis.
Anemia treatments depend on the severity of your symptoms and the cause of your anemia.
If chemotherapy is causing your anemia, a doctor may prescribe injectable drugs, such as epoetin alfa (Epogen). This drug tells your bone marrow to produce more red blood cells.
Epoetin alfa also has the potential to cause serious side effects, such as blood clots or increased risk of death. As a result, you should use the lowest dose possible for only as long as it takes to regulate your red blood cell levels.
A doctor may also recommend that you take
If anemia occurs due to blood loss, a doctor will need to determine the cause and treat it. As blood loss often occurs in the gastrointestinal tract, a doctor may recommend a colonoscopy and an endoscopy to view your stomach and intestines.
A blood transfusion is sometimes necessary to treat acute anemia. However, while it can treat severe anemia, it is considered a temporary measure and may not be enough to control anemia in the long term.
If you think you have anemia, it can be helpful to speak with a doctor. They’ll review your symptoms and order the necessary tests needed to make a diagnosis.
If you have anemia, you can expect to have symptoms such as fatigue and weakness until your blood cell counts are healthy. The symptoms often improve rapidly once treatment starts. In the meantime, trying the following may help you cope:
- Listen to your body’s signals, and rest when you’re tired or not feeling well.
- Stick to a regular sleep schedule.
- Consider asking for help with meals and household chores.
- Eat a healthy, nutrient-rich diet, including iron-rich eggs, red meat, and liver.
- Avoid activities that can increase your bleeding risk.
If you don’t experience relief with treatment or you have shortness of breath at rest, unconsciousness, or chest pain, you should seek immediate medical attention.
If you have leukemia and develop anemia, a doctor will work with you to relieve your symptoms. Many treatment options can reduce anemia side effects during cancer treatment. The earlier you seek treatment, the less likely you are to develop serious complications.
Anemia and Leukemia are both conditions that affect the production of cells and bone marrow. There is no evidence that anemia can cause leukemia. However, leukemia can make you more likely to develop anemia.
Anemia treatments depend on the severity of your symptoms and the cause of your anemia. If chemotherapy is causing your anemia, a doctor may prescribe injectable drugs to alleviate symptoms.
A doctor may also recommend that you take iron supplements to treat iron-deficiency anemia.
If you think you may have anemia, it can be beneficial to speak with a doctor. They can review your symptoms, order the necessary tests needed to make a diagnosis, and put together an effective treatment plan.