Anemia is a decrease
in either the number of the red blood cells or the amount
of hemoglobin in the blood stream. Hemoglobin is the
red iron-containing pigment which is responsible for
the transporting the oxygen or carbon dioxide. Prostate
cancer chemotherapy can damage the bone marrow where
red blood cells are located, in addition to where the
white blood cells and platelets are produced. Symptoms
of anemia include tiredness, irritability, headache,
nausea, dizziness, and chest pain. Epoetin is a drug
which can counteract the chemotherapy side effect by
stimulating the production of more red blood cells.
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