Anticancer drugs can affect the bone marrow's ability to make platelets. Platelets are blood cells that help stop bleeding by making your blood clot. If your blood does not have enough platelets, you may bleed or bruise more easily than usual, even without an injury.
Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
Your doctor will check your platelet count often while you are having chemotherapy. If your platelet count falls too low, the doctor may give you a platelet transfusion to build up the count. There are also medicines called colony stimulating factors that help increase your platelets.
If your platelet count is low, do the following:
RESOURCES:
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
http://cancernet.nci.nih.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
BC Cancer Agency
http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/default.htm
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca
References:
National Cancer Institute website. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/ . Accessed March 22, 2006.
Last reviewed March 2008 by Marcin Chwistek, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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