Blood after chemotherapy

Normal healthy cells in the human body divide quite slowly, so they are not so susceptible to suppression by cytostatics – chemotherapy drugs.

But this does not apply to bone marrow cells, which perform hematopoietic function. They also divide quickly, like malignant cells, and therefore are subject to destruction by therapy due to the rapid rate of division.

Chemotherapy has serious side effects for the human hematopoietic system. The patient's blood after a course of chemotherapy becomes much poorer in its composition. This condition of the patient is called myelosuppression or pancytopenia - a sharp decrease in all elements in the blood due to a violation of the hematopoietic function. This concerns the level of leukocytes, platelets, erythrocytes, and so on in the blood plasma.

Chemotherapy drugs are distributed throughout the body via the bloodstream and at their final points – the foci of malignant tumors – they have a destructive effect on cancer cells. But the blood elements themselves are also subject to the same effect, becoming damaged.

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ESR after chemotherapy

ESR is an indicator of the rate of sedimentation of erythrocytes in the blood, which can be determined during a general blood test. In the decoding of data on the patient's blood condition, the last digit will indicate the ESR level.

The analysis is carried out as follows: a substance is added to the blood that prevents it from clotting, and the test tube is left in a vertical position for an hour. Gravity causes the red blood cells to settle to the bottom of the test tube. After that, the height of the transparent yellow blood plasma that has formed within an hour is measured – it no longer contains red blood cells.

After chemotherapy, the patient's ESR is elevated, since there is a reduced number of red blood cells in the blood, which is due to damage to the patient's hematopoietic system and severe anemia.

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Lymphocytes after chemotherapy

Lymphocytes are one of the groups of leukocytes and serve to recognize agents harmful to the body and neutralize them. They are produced in the human bone marrow and actively function in the lymphoid tissue.

The patient's condition after chemotherapy is characterized by the so-called lymphopenia, which is expressed in a decrease in lymphocytes in the blood. With an increase in the dose of chemotherapy, the number of lymphocytes in the blood drops sharply. At the same time, the patient's immunity also worsens, which makes the patient unprotected against infectious diseases.

Leukocytes after chemotherapy

Leukocytes are white blood cells, which include cells of different appearance and functions - lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils. First of all, in the human body, leukocytes perform a protective function against pathogenic agents that have an external or internal origin. Therefore, the work of leukocytes is directly related to the level of human immunity and the state of the protective capabilities of his body.

The level of leukocytes in the blood after a course of chemotherapy is sharply reduced. This condition is dangerous for the human body as a whole, since the patient's immunity decreases, and the person becomes susceptible to even the simplest infections and harmful microorganisms. The patient's body's resistance is greatly reduced, which can provoke a sharp deterioration in health.

Therefore, a necessary measure after undergoing chemotherapy is to increase the level of leukocytes in the blood.

Platelets after chemotherapy

After a course of chemotherapy, a sharp decrease in the number of platelets is observed in the patient's blood, which is called thrombocytopenia. This condition of the blood after the treatment is dangerous for the patient's health, since platelets affect blood clotting.

The use of dactinomycin, mutamivin and nitrosourea derivatives in chemotherapy severely affects platelets.

A decrease in the number of platelets in the blood is manifested by the appearance of bruises on the skin, bleeding from the mucous membranes of the nose, gums, and digestive tract.

Treatment of thrombocytopenia is selected depending on the severity of the disease. Low and moderate degrees of the disease do not require special treatment. But severe, life-threatening disease requires the use of platelet transfusions. With a reduced level of platelets in the blood, the next course of chemotherapy may be postponed or the doses of drugs may be reduced.

To increase the level of platelets in the blood, you need to resort to certain measures:

1. Etamzilat or dicynone are medicines that promote blood clotting without affecting the platelet count. They are available in tablets and injection solutions.
2. Derinat is a medicinal product based on salmon nucleic acids, available in drops or injections.
3. Methyluracil is a drug that improves trophism in human body tissues and helps accelerate regeneration processes.
4. Prednisolone is a drug that is used in conjunction with chemotherapy.
5. Sodekor is a medicine created on the basis of a mixture of herbal infusions. It is used in the treatment of respiratory diseases. At the same time, it is truly the most effective medicine for increasing the level of platelets. Literally, "before our eyes" - in three to four days of using the drug, the number of platelets returns to normal.
6. It is necessary to take B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and zinc preparations, and lysine.
7. Use of nucleic acid-containing products in food - red caviar, nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts and pine nuts, almonds), seeds, legumes, sesame and flax seeds, sprouted grains of cereals, fresh sprouts of legumes, berries and fruits containing small grains - strawberries, wild strawberries, figs, blackberries, raspberries, kiwi. Any greens in large quantities are also useful, as well as spices - coriander, cloves, saffron.

Hemoglobin after chemotherapy

The consequences of chemotherapy are the suppression of hematopoiesis, that is, the function of hematopoiesis, which also concerns the production of red blood cells. The patient experiences erythrocytopenia, which manifests itself in a low number of red blood cells in the blood, as well as a drop in the level of hemoglobin, as a result of which anemia develops.

The level of hemoglobin in the blood becomes critical, especially after repeated courses of chemotherapy, as well as with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Increasing the hemoglobin level after undergoing a course of chemotherapy means increasing the patients' chances of recovery. Since the hemoglobin level in the blood directly affects the survival of cancer patients.

Anemia after chemotherapy

Anemia is a sharp decrease in the number of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the blood, as well as hemoglobin, a protein contained in red blood cells. All cancer patients experience mild or moderate anemia after undergoing chemotherapy. Some patients experience severe anemia.

As stated above, the cause of anemia is the suppression of the functioning of the hematopoietic organs, damage to blood cells, which negatively affects the blood formula and its composition.

Symptoms of anemia include:

• the appearance of pale skin and dark circles under the eyes;
• the appearance of weakness throughout the body and increased fatigue;
• the occurrence of shortness of breath;
• the presence of a strong heartbeat or its interruptions - tachycardia.

Anemia in cancer patients after chemotherapy can last for years, which requires effective measures for its treatment. Mild and moderate anemia does not require intensive therapy - it is enough to change the diet and take drugs that improve the blood composition. In case of severe anemia, it is necessary to resort to blood transfusion or red blood cell mass, as well as other measures. This was discussed in detail in the sections on increasing the level of red blood cells and hemoglobin.

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ALT after chemotherapy

ALT – alanine aminotransferase – is a special protein (enzyme) that is found inside the cells of the human body, participating in the exchange of amino acids, which proteins are made of. ALT is present in the cells of certain organs: in the liver, kidneys, muscles, heart (in the myocardium – heart muscle) and pancreas.

AST – aspartate aminotransferase – is a special protein (enzyme) that is also found inside the cells of certain organs – the liver, heart (in the myocardium), muscles, nerve fibers; the lungs, kidneys and pancreas contain it in smaller quantities.

Elevated levels of ALT and AST in the blood indicate moderate or high damage to the organ containing this protein. After a course of chemotherapy, an increase in the amount of liver enzymes - ALT and AST - in the blood serum is observed. These changes in the results of laboratory tests indicate, first of all, toxic liver damage.

Chemotherapy drugs have a depressing effect not only on the bone marrow, but also on other organs of hematopoiesis - the spleen, etc. And the higher the dose of drugs, the more noticeable the results of damage to internal organs become, and the more the hematopoietic function is suppressed.

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How to increase white blood cells after chemotherapy?

Cancer patients often ask themselves: how to increase white blood cells after chemotherapy?

There are several common methods, which include:

1. Taking Granacite and Neupogen, which are drugs with a strong effect; Leukogen, which has a medium effect; Immunofal and Polyoxidonium, which have a gentle effect on the body. Also indicated are granulocyte growth factor drugs - Filgrastim and Lenograstim, which help stimulate the production of leukocytes in the bone marrow. At the same time, it should be remembered that only a doctor can prescribe the appropriate treatment.
2. Changes in diet that require the inclusion of chicken and beef broths, mussels, stewed and baked fish, vegetables - beets, carrots, pumpkin, zucchini in the patient's diet.
3. It is recommended to eat red fish and caviar, as well as small amounts of natural red wine. All red fruits, vegetables and berries are useful.
4. It is useful to eat buckwheat with kefir for breakfast, which is prepared as follows. In the evening, the required amount of cereal is poured with water, in the morning kefir is added to it and the dish can be eaten.
5. Honey has beneficial properties; it should be eaten twice a day before meals in quantities of forty to sixty grams.
6. It is good to consume sprouted chicory and lentils - a tablespoon twice a day.
7. Tincture of walnuts will also help to raise the level of leukocytes. Peeled nuts are placed in a glass jar and filled with water. After that, the mixture is infused in the light, but not in direct sunlight, for two weeks, and then transferred to a dark place. The tincture should be taken three times a day, one tablespoon at a time for at least a month.
8. It is recommended to drink barley decoction, which is prepared from one and a half glasses of grain, boiled in two liters of water. The liquid is brought to a boil, and then simmered over low heat until it is reduced by half. The decoction is drunk half an hour before meals three times a day, fifty milliliters. For the benefit and taste, you can add a little honey or sea salt.
9. Oat decoction is also good for this purpose. A small saucepan is half filled with washed grain, then milk is poured to the top of the container and brought to a boil. After that, the decoction is cooked in a steam bath for twenty minutes. Taken in small quantities several times a day.
10. Five tablespoons of rose hips are crushed and filled with one liter of water. The drink is brought to a boil and cooked over low heat for another ten minutes. After which the decoction is wrapped up and infused for eight hours. It is taken throughout the day as tea.
11. The patient needs to drink a large amount of liquid, which contains many vitamins. Freshly prepared juice, fruit drink, compote, green tea are recommended.

How to increase hemoglobin after chemotherapy?

Patients after a course of chemotherapy are puzzled by the question: how to increase hemoglobin after chemotherapy?

You can increase your hemoglobin level in the following ways:

1. A certain diet, which must be agreed upon with the attending physician. The patient's diet must include substances that normalize the blood composition, namely: iron, folic acid, vitamin B12, and so on. It is necessary to take into account the fact that excessive content of these components in food can lead to accelerated reproduction of malignant cells. Therefore, the diet of a cancer patient must be balanced, and the above elements are prescribed by the attending physician in the form of drugs.
2. If the hemoglobin level has dropped below 80 g/l, the specialist will prescribe a red blood cell transfusion procedure.
3. A sharp drop in hemoglobin levels can be prevented by transfusing whole blood or red blood cells before chemotherapy. Such a measure is also necessary immediately after the end of the course of treatment. But it is necessary to take into account that frequent transfusions of blood (or its components) lead to sensitization of the patient's body, which subsequently manifests itself in the occurrence of allergic reactions after the blood transfusion procedure.
4. Erythropoietins effectively increase hemoglobin levels. These drugs stimulate the development of red blood cells, which affects the acceleration of hemoglobin production (provided that the body has all the necessary substances for this). With the help of erythropoietins, an effect is exerted directly on the bone marrow in a selective manner. The results of the drug's action become noticeable some time after the start of its use, so it is advisable to prescribe them immediately after the detection of anemia. These drugs are expensive, among them, "Eprex" and "Neorecormon" are considered affordable for our patients.
5. You can use a special "tasty" mixture, which is prepared as follows. Take equal parts of walnuts, dried apricots, raisins, prunes, figs and lemon. Everything is thoroughly ground in a blender and seasoned with honey. This "medicine" is taken one tablespoon three times a day. The mixture is stored in a glass jar with a lid in the refrigerator.
6. Eating greens, especially parsley, garlic, boiled beef and liver has a positive effect on hemoglobin levels.
7. Of the freshly prepared juices, pomegranate, beetroot, and radish juice are good.
8. You need to drink mixtures of fresh juices: beetroot and carrot (one hundred grams of each juice); apple juice (half a glass), beetroot juice (a quarter of a glass), carrot juice (a quarter of a glass) - take twice a day on an empty stomach. A mixture of a glass of apple juice, homemade cranberry juice and a quarter of a glass of beetroot juice also raises hemoglobin well.