low hemoglobin

[alysona828]

my dad has a hemoglobin of 10. He has been dizzy, and had a rash(Unclear if the two are related- - PCP said possibly ). Also low appetite. Just completed radiation Jan 3 and started the Lupron end of November. Radiation was done to prostate and to met on hip bone.

Anyone have insight into what is this caused by (is it the cancer itself, the radiation or the Lupron??) and can he be treated? Oncologist will be calling today.

[Nusch]

I was also low on hemoglobin and red blood cells during cancer regimen and I received Aranesp injections weekly for six weeks. I was also low in iron and received a respective injection. My blood levels came almost back to normal. Please ask your oncologist about these options.

[Purple-Bike in reply to Nusch]

Did you experience any side effects from ARANESP?

[Nusch in reply to Purple-Bike]

No, none.

[alysona828 in reply to Nusch]

Thank you very much

[timotur]

Basically, radiation can damage stem cells in bone marrow causing aplastic anemia.

cancernetwork.com/view/anem...

ndtv.com/health/9-foods-tha...

[alysona828 in reply to timotur]

Thank you

[SpencerBoy11]

My radiation caused me to develop myelodysplastic syndromes--MDS. My current hemoglobin is 10.2. A bone marrow biopsy would be necessary to confirm it. I get short dizzy spells. Unfortunately, the cure is a transplant and it only works about 40 % of the time.

[alysona828 in reply to SpencerBoy11]

I’m sorry to hear this 😔 thank you for sharing your experience

[Sailing-Todd]

My husband’s haemoglobin went down to 10 at diagnosis. He had blood transfusions after surgery on his hip which kept it at around 10.

He then took iron tablets for around six months which brought it up to 13. This was 18 months ago and it has remained stable. He eats red meat approximately twice a week, other meals are vegetarian, fish or occasional cooked/processed meat (don’t judge, we have a local bakery that makes the most amazing sausages 😁).

[j-o-h-n in reply to Sailing-Todd]

No judge........ just the address of the local bakery......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[Sailing-Todd in reply to j-o-h-n]

birdsbakery.com/ the best cakes ever. Probably what got us into this mess!🤫

[j-o-h-n in reply to Sailing-Todd]

Thanks for the info....... I'll stop by next time I sail across the pond....Stay Well

p.s. What got us all into this mess...... is we were born males........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n

[pe43 in reply to Sailing-Todd]

Did your husband get a blood test to measure total iron?

[Sailing-Todd in reply to pe43]

Hi Pe43, just a straight Hb as far as I know.

[pe43 in reply to Sailing-Todd]

Thanks. I was interested because I have low hemoglobin, and I learned it can be due to low testosterone after ADT and also to low iron.

[alysona828 in reply to pe43]

Thanks for this. Just curious are you on Lupron? How are you doing otherwise, are you responding to treatment? My dads iron went up to 10.2… wondering if the doc will take action at this point….

[pe43 in reply to alysona828]

Yes, I'm on lupron (Eligard) and also abiraterone (Zytiga). I'm doing well with these drugs, my testosterone and PSA are both basically undetectable. But my hemoglobin is down to 10 g/dL, probably caused by the low testosterone, which is needed to make hemoglobin. It could also be caused by low iron, which is also needed to make hemoglobin. My iron is now 47 ug/dL (normal is 49-181). Low iron can be caused by internal bleeding somewhere, or by diet. You wrote 'My dads iron went up to 10.2', I'm not sure what that means, is that for hemoglobin?

[alysona828 in reply to pe43]

Sorry I meant hemoglobin. He was at 9.9 -about 3 weeks ago (he was also dizzy and not feeling well at this time) and now he’s up to 10.1 but feeling much better. I am not happy with that hemoglobin level no matter how he feels but what do I know?

I actually don’t know his iron levels. Doctor hasn’t called yet to share if he’s going to take action. Doc had made a comment that he “waves the flag if “ hemoglobin goes down to 8 range. But not sure totally what that means.

Glad to hear you are doing well on Lupron. Dad has PSA test early April.

[pe43 in reply to alysona828]

I believe a hemoglobin value of 8 is seriously low, it may require a blood infusion. There are drugs that are used to stimulate red blood cell production, if necessary. You may want to request an iron test, it could be done at the same time as the PSA test, that's what I asked for.

[Sailing-Todd]

birdsbakery.com/ the best cakes ever. Probably what got us into this mess!🤫