The WHO defines anaemia as a haemoglobin concentration of less than 120 g/litre in women and less than 130 gm/litre in men. Cancer treatment can suppress the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow. Once the cytotoxic chemotherapy is stopped, the haemoglobin can return to pre-treatment conditions.
Anaemia associated with cancer treatment is managed by adjusting the cancer treatment regimen, giving iron supplements and, if anaemia is severe, transfusing red blood cells. This guidance by NICE recommends erythropoietin analogues plus intravenous iron as an option for managing cancer treatment-induced anaemia in women who have platinum-based chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and who have symptoms associated with anaemia and a haemoglobin concentration of 80 gm/litre or lower. Clinicians also consider erythropoietin analogues for people who cannot have blood transfusions and who have…
