How does acute myeloid leukemia affect red blood cells?
AML causes leukemia cells to crowd out healthy red blood cells in your bone marrow, making it harder for your body to produce enough of them. This leads to low red blood cell counts, a condition called anemia.
The problem can worsen in a few ways:
* When you have a Show Full Answer
How does acute myeloid leukemia affect red blood cells?
AML causes leukemia cells to crowd out healthy red blood cells in your bone marrow, making it harder for your body to produce enough of them. This leads to low red blood cell counts, a condition called anemia.
The problem can worsen in a few ways:
* When you have a lot of cancer cells in your body, especially before treatment begins
* During AML treatment, as chemotherapy often kills both cancerous and healthy blood cells
* As immature white blood cells (myeloblasts) take over space in the bone marrow where red blood cells should develop
When your red blood cell levels drop, you may experience symptoms like:
* Fatigue and weakness
* Dizziness or lightheadedness
* Headaches
* Pale or yellowish skin
* Shortness of breath or chest pain
* Feeling cold, especially in your hands and feet
* Uneven heart rhythms
Your doctor may recommend red blood cell transfusions to help manage anemia during treatment, typically when hemoglobin levels fall to 7-8 grams per deciliter.
February 19
Continue with Facebook
Continue with Email
Join
Your Privacy Choices
