Cancer patients commonly suffer from low blood counts. Typically chemotherapy treatments are to blame. Chemotherapy affects both cancer cells and normal body cells, including blood cells. Chemotherapy attacks rapidly growing cells. Blood cells...
The term low blood count can refer to white blood cells, red blood cells or platelets. While low blood counts are often the temporary result of a treatable illness, low levels of blood cells can indicate a serious medical condition that cannot be...
White blood cells are an important part of the immune system because they help us fight off infection. People whose immunity is compromised, through diseases such as AIDS, cancer or hepatitis, may have a low white blood cell count. Inadequate...
Colon cancer is cancer that originates in the large intestine, or the colon; and rectal starts in the end of the large intestine. The term colorectal cancer can describe either of these conditions. Colorectal cancer typically does not cause any...
If you are diagnosed with a low blood count, you have lower than normal levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Low red and white blood cell count are the more urgent problems. Luckily, there are many natural ways to improve...
Hemoglobin is the protein on red blood cells that carries iron. Some chemotherapy drugs may affect your bone marrow, the site where red blood cells are made. This may result in anemia, which can cause you to feel weak, faint or short of breath,...
High blood protein levels can be a warning symptom of serious illness. It may signal chronic inflammation or infection, or it be a sign of bone marrow disease, including the cancer called multiple myeloma. If you have multiple myeloma, consult...
Blood cancer, also called hematologic cancer, can begin in the bone marrow, lymph nodes or blood itself and involves any of the many types of blood cells that circulate throughout the body. Diagnosis of blood cancer may be easy to make, but...
Multiple myeloma is a cancer of plasma cells involving primarily the bone marrow, which releases a distinctive protein into the blood used for diagnosis. The disease usually occurs in older adults, with approximately 16,000 new cases diagnosed...
Low white blood cell count, also called leukopenia, is a condition that can be caused by a number of diseases and medical conditions. Because white blood cells (leukocytes) defend the body against infections, it is important to determine the...
Cancer in children may be treated with radiation therapy depending on the type of cancer and the location in the body, according to the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The effects of radiation on children may vary from child to...
Thai massage is an ancient form of massage therapy. According to the website Thai Massage, the benefits of this type of massage are similar to a yoga session, but without any exertion on your part. Massage itself is a process in which pressure is...
The National Cancer Institute estimates that over 58,000 individuals will be diagnosed with kidney cancer in the United States in 2010 and more than 13,000 people will die from the disease that same year. Treatment is most effective when the...
According to the Mayo Clinic, a low white blood cell count can be caused by anything from a congenital disorder to cancer. As a low white blood cell count can leave a person dangerously susceptible to illness, it is important to take precautions...
Your intake of dietary vitamin B-12 promotes healthy neurological function and red blood cell formation -- two body processes that suffer side effects from chemotherapy. Fatigue is a treatment side effect that can alter both physical and mental...
A low white blood cell (WBC) count, known as leukopenia, can be caused by diseases such as leukemia, cancer, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and some medications, according to the Mayo Clinic. Normal white blood count is 5,000 to 10,000 WBCs per...
Ratio-methotrexate sodium, commonly known as methotrexate, is a chemotherapy used to treat certain cancers, severe rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis that does not respond to usual treatment. Methotrexate belongs to the type of drugs referred to...
Having a low blood count can trigger a variety of health conditions including anemia. It can also be caused by some conditions, like cancer. To ward off a low blood count, eat foods high in iron. The iron in your diet stimulates red blood cell...
White blood cells form an integral part of your immune system, helping your body both identify and destroy potentially dangerous particles. Low white blood cells — a condition called neutropenia — disarms your immune system, rendering...
A low white blood cell count can be caused by a variety of conditions, some that are minor and easily treatable and some that are life-threatening. In some cases, depending on the cause, eating the right foods can help. However, the first step is...
The term chemotherapy refers to the use of drugs that kill cancer cells in the treatment of different types of cancer, according to the Macmillan Cancer Support website. Doctors have more than 50 chemotherapy drugs available to them as they design...
Chemotherapy is a type of drug used to treat various forms of cancer. It's often referred to as cytotoxic or antieoplastic therapy. Chemo is different from other forms of cancer treatment such as radiation therapy or surgical removal. Unlike...
Shark cartilage is extracted from the heads and fins of sharks and usually sold as an alternative to conventional cancer treatments, according to the American Cancer Society. It's also sometimes used to treat arthritis, psoriasis and other...
White blood cells, or leukocytes, are the cells your body uses to fight off infections. There are different types of white blood cell, each responsible for fighting different microbes. For example, neutrophils help fight off bacterial infections,...
A low white blood cell count is usually found when a doctor orders blood tests. White blood cells, or leukocytes, attack foreign cells and prevent them from causing an infection. A low count of white blood cells is a symptom of an illness, but is...
Cancer develops from normal cells within the body that accumulate genetic mutations, allowing the cells to proliferate uncontrollably, evade cell death, and give rise to unlimited numbers of cells. There are a number of forms of cancer, which...
White blood cells, which function within the immune system to protect the body from foreign invaders, consist of five types of cells including lymphocytes, monocytes, basophils, neutrophils and eosinophils. The bone marrow continually produces new...
Leukopenia, also known as a low white blood cell count, is a medical condition that can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system. Because low white blood cell count can increase susceptibility to infections, it is important to find and...
According to the American Cancer Society, following a nutritious diet during and after cancer treatment can make a patient feel better and stay stronger. It can decrease the severity of the side effects of treatment, shorten treatment time and...