Okay so if you have stomach cancer and part of your stomach is removed, they give you postoperative treatment of PROCRIT? Correct? How does this help prevent against anemia... and why would you become anemic with part of your stomach removed anyway?
2007-02-06 14:01:47 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Procrit is usually prescripted to chemotherapy patients to keep their red blood cell count up.
2007-02-06 14:09:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Procrit is a drug used during cancer treatment, for anemia caused by bone marrow suppression by the chemotherapy.
The anemia that results after a stomach surgery that you have described is most often a vitamin B12 deficiency. For vitamin B12 to be absorbed by the body, it must bind to a protein that is secreted by cells in the stomach. So, when you have less stomach, there is less of that protein that you need to absorb the vitamin. This is often treated by giving vitamin B12 injections, either in a muscle or in the fat tissue. Some people even give the injections to themselves at home. It is a red liquid so it looks a little scary but is perfectly harmless and by giving it in injection form, you can bypass the stomach altogether.
This type of anemia also happens to people who have gastric bypass surgery for obesity - to lose weight.
2007-02-07 03:43:49 · answer #2 · answered by yakimaniacs 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Procrit stimulates your bone marrow to make red blood cells.
There are a few reasons why you would be anemic if you have your stomach removed. First thing that comes to mind is just simply poor nutrition. and not being able to take in the foods that help you to make iron. Having a gastrectomy is not an easy thing. I would think eating would be a problem.
Also, when your really sick, your bone marrow just does not function as well, making it hard to work making cells. They call that anemia of chronic illness.
Chemotherapy really whaps out your red blood cells too.
2007-02-07 18:21:55 · answer #3 · answered by happydawg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Procrit is given to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells. Chemotherapy used to treat cancer kills off the red blood cells leading to anemia.
2007-02-06 15:41:36 · answer #4 · answered by Meggie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Procrit helps raise your hematocrit...you could have low hematocrit after surgery , (because of blood loss), therefore needing higher levels. The above person is right also...chemo not only kills cancer cells, but damages/kills good ones too. Chemo essentially poisons the cancer and the recipient...(but the benefits hopefully outweigh the risks).
There was actually no mention of chemotherapy.....but best of luck with your answer.
2007-02-06 14:10:42 · answer #5 · answered by shoppingcartgirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋