What are the symptoms of low red blood count?
The typical signs of anemia are extreme fatigue and shortness of breath, but a low red blood count can cause a host of different symptoms. A patient's skin may be pale or clammy, or he may have a rapid heart rate, chest pain, or difficulty staying warm. Because low oxygen in the blood can affect the brain as well, he may feel dizzy and light-headed or have difficulty concentrating or remembering things. He may also have headaches.
How low does someone's red blood count need to go before the doctor recommends treatment?
This is a very individual decision, and the doctor will make it based more on symptoms (such as fatigue or shortness of breath) than on a particular number. It's likely the doctor will take a wait-and-watch attitude for as long as possible before recommending medication or a transfusion, because he's hoping the red blood count will rise on its own. Also, keep in mind that red blood count won't drop dramatically right after chemo; it usually takes one to two weeks for the blood count to reach what doctors call the nadir, the point at which it drops to its lowest point. Cutoff rates vary according to different labs, but if a patient's hemoglobin drops below eight, most doctors will recommend either growth factors or a transfusion.
How long does it take for the red blood count to rise again?
Red blood cells have a long life -- up to 120 days -- so rebuilding someone's red blood count is a long, slow process. The speed with which bone marrow makes new red blood cells is also affected by factors such as the type of cancer, type of treatment -- particularly the type and dosage of chemo -- and the patient's general state of health.
One thing to keep in mind is that red blood counts won't drop immediately after chemo but will start dropping after a week or two, and will then continue to fall for several more weeks. This is because chemo doesn't kill off the red blood cells already in the bloodstream, which are mature and aren't dividing rapidly. It kills off the cells forming in the marrow, and therefore there's a delayed response that corresponds with the rate at which the marrow is creating new cells. The rate of regeneration can be affected by the patient's age and overall health. Also, some types of cancer and some types of treatment (such as radiation and some medications) suppress the production of red blood cells, so the rebuilding process can be much slower.
knowing what to exspect my count to be if I have cancer. I may have colon cancer.
This article was very helpful to me to understand what my daughter is going thru with chem.
Hi rosimomm, Thank you for your question. We have a wonderful Ask & Answer section where you can post your question. You can post your question, here: ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). I hope that helps. Take care -- Emily | Community Manager
my red blood cells were at 25. What does that mean.
Hi James C.M., Thank you for your comment. If you would like, you can post your question in our Ask & Answer section, here: ( http://www.caring.com/ask ). Take care -- Emily | Community Manager
To Marilyn Hind I did only one hitch in the Air Force many years ago, but what little experience I had with doctors then suggests that your daughter will get exelent care in the military
Very informative. I would like to know about cancer due to radiation treatment for prostate cancer. That is, does cancer occur in the pelvis as a consequence of the radiation treatment for the prostate cancer?
i lost over 40 punds in 9 months. I have no appetite for food because I have been under a lot of stress. I had an anxiety attack and I am afraid. I will be seeing a hemotologist
Hi brenda, Thank you very much for your question. Unfortunately, we are unable to diagnose medical problems for our site members. We suggest that you contact your father's doctor right away regarding his medical issue. We hope our informational site will be of help for you in the future. Take care -- Emily | Community Manager
help my father takes procrit for low red cell count he dont not have cancer. is there another drug that can be taken. procrit is not helping he been taking it for months.
very very helpful!!!
Low red blood cell count can mean internal bleeding. Like cancer of colon.
Hi Anonymous, thanks for your question. I found a few resources that might be useful to you: Blood Count section (http://www.caring.com/blood-count), What are causes of low blood count, red and white (http://www.caring.com/questions/causes-of-low-blood-count), Managing Low Red Blood Counts (http://www.caring.com/articles/low-red-blood-count). I hope that helps. -- Emily
i want to know more about low red cell in my blood and whats is the main problem
I have had a sort of low red blood count for years, could this be normal?
Please guide me about my problem. Iam Patient of 5-6 Red cells pass out in my Urine. I have still not found any Doctor, who will provide me a better treatment. I have been pass 2 years. Kindly provide to me the treetment.
My sons doctor recently told me his red blood cell count was low. However your post only informs you of cancer therapy & anemia that would be causes to low red blood count. My son has been checked and is not anemic. He also has not had any cancer therapy or treatment at all.
what if you dont have cancer but your rbc and wbc are low due to a kidney infection and now does not have the infection but the rbc and wbc are low, what else should one due.
my daughter continues to have low red blood cell count---8.0. She had blood that pooled around her heart and the cardio surgeon drain it but she still has low red blood cell count. It's been over a month now and she is taking mega doses of iron but no changel. She had Hodgins disease 20 years ago and they did biopsies while she was in the hospital recently but supposedly didn't find anything --also full CAT scan. I'm scared for her. She is in the Army so I worry about the quality of med attention she is getting. What can she do to get her RBC count up???