Iron deficiency is more often linked to chronic blood loss than kidney cancer. Since blood contains iron, losing it means you lose iron as well. The more blood you lose, the lower your iron level drops, resulting in symptoms commonly associated with anemia. However, anemia can also be consequence of cancer, including kidney cancer. Kidney cancer can cause a slow bleeding into the urine. In fact, blood in the urine is the most common symptom of this disease. Although blood loss is slow, it's still chronic in nature and can deplete iron in your bloodstream to the point of anemia. Additionally, cancer cells can alter your iron metabolism, affecting iron levels and leading to an iron deficiency.
Anemia
Renal cell carcinoma is the most common form of kidney cancer that can lead to anemia, explains the Cleveland Clinic. The source of the anemia is at least partly due to blood loss, but the iron deficiency is thought to be related to hepcidin production. Hepcidin is a peptide produced by the liver that actually traps iron within iron-storage cells and blocks the absorption of iron within the digestive tract, notes a January 2008 article in "Hematology," a journal published by the American Society of Hematology. With cancer, hepcidin production is upregulated, which reduces your serum iron level and can result in anemia. While this form of anemia is usually referred to as anemia of chronic disease, it's still the result of low serum iron levels.
Symptoms
At the onset of an iron deficiency, you won't likely experience any symptoms. As the levels of iron continue to drop, however, you'll begin to notice changes. One of the more common symptoms is extreme fatigue, but this is also accompanied by weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat. Some people also develop headaches, pale skin, cold hands or feet and a tingling in the legs.
Treatment
Reversing an iron deficiency during the treatment of cancer is often the same as anyone else treating this disorder. Your doctor will likely prescribe iron. But instead of taking this supplement alone, it's used in conjunction with epoetin alfa, or EPO, to help increase healthy red blood cells, explains the National Institutes of Health. However, the Iron Disorders Institute warns against iron supplementation to treat anemia as a result of cancer, including kidney cancer. Iron can nourish cancer cells. Your doctor can determine the best course of treatment for both kidney cancer and iron deficiency.
Complications
Leaving an iron deficiency untreated can lead to complications. One potential problem involves the heart. As already mentioned, a deficiency in this mineral can lead to rapid heartbeats. The reason for this is that the lack of iron depletes red blood cells, which transport oxygen throughout the body. The heart must work that much harder to meet the body's demands for this nutrient, increasing your heart rate. A consequence of this rapid heart rate is an increased risk of heart failure.
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