Anemia
Also known as: low haemoglobin, low Hb
A low red blood cell count that causes tiredness, breathlessness and pale skin.
Definition
Anemia means there are too few healthy red blood cells (or too little haemoglobin) to carry enough oxygen around the body. Common symptoms include fatigue, weakness, breathlessness on exertion, headaches and pale skin. It is detected on a routine complete blood count (CBC).
In cancer patients, anemia can result from the cancer itself (especially blood cancers and bone-marrow involvement), from chemotherapy or radiation, from blood loss, or from nutritional deficiencies. Treatment depends on the cause and may include iron, vitamin B12, folate, transfusions or growth-factor injections. Non-cancer causes such as aplastic anemia and hemolytic anemia are also managed by haematologists.
See also
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) — A common blood test that measures red cells, white cells and platelets.
- Chemotherapy — Drug treatment that kills cancer cells throughout the body.
- Bone Marrow Biopsy — A procedure that samples the spongy tissue inside a bone to look for blood-cell disorders.
- Hematologic Malignancy — A cancer that arises in the blood, bone marrow or lymphatic system.
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Medically reviewed by
Dr. Rehan Abdullah
Dr. Rehan Abdullah is a dual-trained clinical and radiation oncologist with over a decade of experience treating both solid tumours and hematologic malignancies. He serves as Consultant Oncologist at INMOL Hospital and sees patients at Farooq Hospital and Healthnox Medical Center, Lahore. Read full profile →
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