Lymphoid Cancer & the Lifelong Risk for Anemia

For patients who are undergoing cancer treatment, there is an increased risk for a variety of secondary health complications. In many cases, the complications can be managed when diagnosed early and aggressively treated.

For patients who suffer from malignancies of the lymphatic system, there is a long term need for aggressive cancer therapy. Even after remission, cancer treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, may be required to maintain the remission status. Because the lymphatic cancer induces complications such as anemia, this aggressive form of therapy may also serve to only further complicate the anemic state.

In addition to the cancer related treatments, patients with lymphoid cancer often find they experience the development of other types of cancers at some point in their lives. So, while the aggressive cancer therapy may provide remission, there is a long term risk for developing another type of cancer later in life. Again, for this reason, your level of hemoglobin and anemic state must be managed from day one of your diagnosis and continue throughout the remainder of your life.

As a patient who requires chemotherapy or radiation therapy, especially when treating and managing lymphoid malignancies, it is important to ask your oncologist about the risks associated with anemia. With aggressive management of your hemoglobin levels, your anemia can be effectively managed with either recombinant human erythropoietic therapy or even a blood transfusion.

While blood transfusion is a healthcare treatment option most patients want to avoid, your oncologist should consider the initiation of erythropoietic therapy early in your cancer treatment. In many cases, upon diagnosis of lymphoid cancer, you may find your physician will begin the erythropoietic therapy even before the aggressive treatment of your cancer begins. Following FDA approved dosing guidelines, you may notice a significant improvement in your fatigue and energy levels as soon as the hemoglobin levels are increased and your anemic state is placed under control.

As with any complication arising out of cancer treatment, it is important to ask your oncologist to effectively manage all secondary complications. While many oncologists begin this form of anemia treatment soon after your diagnosis, we find that many cancer patients are not familiar with the risk and certainly do not understand the reason behind the use of erythropoietic therapy. When beginning cancer treatment for lymphoid malignancy, ask your oncologist about all of the secondary health risks, even those beyond anemia, and prepare to begin a treatment plan that will progress through life.