Prevention of anemia

Generally, the prevention of anemia during the course of cancer treatment is not possible. The severity of anemia depends, for the most part, on the kind of cancer being treated, the medications and doses used to treat it, and the general condition of the person receiving treatment. Elderly people in cancer treatment may be especially vulnerable to anemia.

However, there are some things you can do to help:

Immediately alert your health care team if you feel fatigue, if your fatigue worsens, or if you begin experiencing shortness of breath.

Eat a diet rich in iron; this helps build red blood cells. Foods rich in iron include red meats and green and leafy vegetables.

Get plenty of rest — especially planning on numerous short breaks during the day.

Talk with your health care team about possible use of nutritional supplements.