Low Hemoglobin

My husband has non-small cell lung cancer. He has been receiving chemo since the beginning of June. Now, his hemoglobin is low. What can we do to help raise this?

Cindy, I can't tell you what to do about hemoglobin, other then research the many available sites on the internet, however I would like to make a suggestion, if I may? Have you ever considered alternative treatments to chemo? I know that can be a scary thought, considering how wide spread the use of chemotherepy is as a means to treat cancer. However much study has been done on the effects, and affects of alternative treatments, and the results are astounding. www.healthy.net is a good starting point for researching alternative cancer treatments, if you so desire.

With best wishes, encouragment,
and warm regards,

JimiSue

One of the side effects of chemotherapy can be a depressed red blood cell count,
and subsequent lowered hemoglobin and hematocrit. These changes can lead to
anemia, fatigue and shortness of breath.

To rebuild healthy red blood cells, several dietary factors come into play: It
is important that you consume enough calories, protein, and B vitamins. You
should talk with the dietitian at your treatment facility who can assess your
dietary intake and nutritional status. He or she can help you determine what
your individual nutrient needs are and provide you with a working plan of action
to combat the problems associated with chemotherapy-induced anemia.. If you
need further assistance, nutritional counseling or courtesy advice is available
by calling Cancer Resource Center, 800.940.2822.

My mother has a disease called "Cold Agglutinin" and one of its main characteristics is a low hemoglobin count. What she has to do is take blood transfusions. She also recently started on a medication called Procrit, I think. This has radically reduced the number and frequency of pints of blood she needs. However, she recently started getting something by 12 hour IV, 3X weekly to reduce the smount of iron in her blood that is there due to the transfusions.

Hi,
My Husband has Myelofibrosis, Bone Marrow disorder. His Hemaglobin falls to 7.4. He takes a Procrit shot every week, It is about $645.00 per shot. He also takes a medication called Thalidomide 200 mg, but he is transfusion dependent on 3 units of red cells every 3 weeks. But the Procrit shots help people that are anemic. His disorder is very progressive. But you need to find out why his hem. is so low. Is there bleeding or does he have one of these rare disorders like my Husband? I hope this helps,

Bobbie

Cindy z, When I was in that situation my nutritionist, who works at the Cancer Treatment Center of America, told me to eat a lot of Shitake mushrooms and low and behold it worked. I also met another patient while waiting treatment and she told me she was taking mushroom tablets every day and she was on treatment 12!! So, there must be something to it. Good Luck to you and your husband. Maureen

Hello Cindy Z!
I have had acute lymphocytic leukemia since October 2002. And when I first became sick, my hemoglobin levels were very low. I would become very short of breath and had very low energy. I know that one solution to this (and you may already know of these solutions) was to have a blood transfusion. I know that this next solution may sound simple, but it is very important to eat in order to increase your blood count levels. I know that eating meat, especially red meat, will help to increase your husband's hemoglobin levels. All of these solutions worked for me (but everyone is different), and I hope that they work for your husband too! I hope that everything goes well!!!

Jennifer

Low blood counts occur due to both the cancer and the cancer treatment. There are medications that can be given to help the body produce more red blood cells (RBC). Procrit or Aranesp. Both are effective in rising low RBC counts. Also check on the ferritin level (iron) as low iron helps to reduce the hemaglobin levels in the blood.