Bone Marrow Suppression and Chemotherapy

What’s bone marrow suppression?

Bone marrow is mushy, spongy tissue in the course of sure bones. It makes blood cells. Almost all chemo medicines suppress the bone marrow. This causes the marrow to make fewer blood cells. The timing of this impact varies by the medicines used and the doses used in your remedy.

Bone marrow makes crimson blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Crimson blood cells carry oxygen to all of the cells within the physique. White blood cells combat an infection. Platelets assist management bleeding and bruising. The dangers for anemia (low crimson blood cells), extreme tiredness (fatigue), an infection, bleeding, and bruising go up when your bone marrow is suppressed.

What are the signs of bone marrow suppression?

These are the most typical signs of bone marrow suppression. However signs could also be a bit totally different for every particular person.

Signs of a low crimson blood cell depend might embody:

• Fatigue

• Pale pores and skin, lips, and nail beds

• Quicker coronary heart price

• Simple tiring with exertion

• Dizziness

• Shortness of breath

Signs of a low white blood cell depend solely occur if an an infection happens due to the low depend. These might embody:

Signs of a low platelet depend might embody:

• Simple bruising

• Bleeding by means of nosebleeds, or from the gums or mouth

• Tiny crimson spots on the pores and skin

• Blood within the urine

• Darkish or black bowel actions

The signs of bone marrow suppression might appear to be different well being issues. All the time discuss together with your healthcare supplier for a prognosis.