Overview Anemia is a condition in which you lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to your body's tissues. Aplastic anemia Iron deficiency anemia Sickle cell anemia Thalassemia Vitamin deficiency anemia. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Iron deficiency anemia. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed May 29, Anemia testing. Lab Tests Online. Means RT, et al. Diagnostic approach to anemia in adults. American Society of Hematology.
Mayo Clinic; Morrow ES Jr. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. April 19, Your guide to anemia. Nutritional anaemias: Tools for effective prevention and control. World Health Organization. It can also cause some cancer treatments to not work as well as they should. Your cancer care team may try to figure out your risk of serious problems from the anemia based on any symptoms you are having and your hemoglobin level.
This will be based on a number of things, including:. Anemia in cancer patients is usually treated based on the cause. Sometimes, treatment of anemia delays cancer treatment until your red blood cells recover. There are 2 main goals in treating anemia:. Your doctor will look at your test results, symptoms, how long you've been having the symptoms, the cancer type, cancer treatment, and other factors.
Talk to your cancer care team about what treatment is right for you. As with any medical problem, the expected benefits of treatment should always outweigh the possible risks.
If your iron levels are low, your doctor may supplement them with iron pills or iron given through your veins iron infusion. Iron infusions carry a risk of allergic reaction. Your doctor will discuss with you what form of iron would be best for your situation.
Your doctor may also ask you to try to eat more iron-rich foods. There are two types of iron in food: heme and non-heme. Heme iron is found in animal products. Heme iron is more easily absorbed by the body than non-heme iron.
Examples of foods that contain heme iron are:. Non-heme iron is found in plant-based foods. Examples of foods that contain high amounts of non-heme iron include:. Non-heme iron is best absorbed by the body when eaten at the same time as fruits and vegetables high in Vitamin C. Examples of foods high in vitamin C include.
A blood cell transfusion is a safe and a common way to treat anemia in people with cancer. It can help the patient feel better and helps oxygen get to vital organs. Your GP may carry out repeat blood tests over the next few months to check that your iron level is getting back to normal. Keep iron supplement tablets out of the reach of children. An overdose of iron in a young child can be fatal. If your diet is partly causing your iron deficiency anaemia, your GP will tell you what foods are rich in iron so you can eat more of them.
Large amounts of these foods and drinks make it harder for your body to absorb iron. You might be referred to a specialist dietitian if you're finding it hard to include iron in your diet. In pregnancy, iron deficiency anaemia is most often caused by a lack of iron in your diet.
Heavy periods and pregnancy are very common causes of iron deficiency anaemia. Heavy periods can be treated with medicine. For men and for women whose periods have stopped, bleeding in the stomach and intestines is the most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia.
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