my mom has cancer of an unknown primary. Why would her hemaglobin and hemacrit levels be dropping?

Answer 1

Is your mother receiving chemotherapy? That will definitely decrease all the blood cells (Pancytopenia), including the hemoglobin and hematocrit. (H&H) The hemoglobin is the measure of the oxygen carrying capacity of the red blood cell and the hematocrit is the percentage of red blood cells in the body. These numbers decrease when the number of red blood cells decrease (as you would assume). Chemo kills the fast growing cancer cells while still decreasing the blood cells. Cancer patient's often have low white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets for which they are monitored daily. If you mom's H&H gets too low the doctor will give her a blood transfusion which is very common for people with cancer. Best of luck and hope this helps!

Answer 2

N0V-002 (novo-two) is a New adjunct medication used with standard chemotherapy tested for approval in the USA.

Increased the ability of patients to tolerate Chemo to the full 100%
Increased the Survival rate by 80%

They are accepting some patients under FDA Fast Track SPA Phase III in the USA.

Script is available outside the USA:

http://messages.finance.yahoo.com/mb/NVLT.OB

Novelos' pipeline of drugs is based on oxidized glutathione, a natural metabolite that is part of the glutathione pathway. This pathway is the primary determinant of intracellular redox (oxidation/reduction) potential and, as such, plays a key role in cell protection (e.g. detoxification) and in regulation of cell signaling pathways (e.g. leading to cytokine production). Novelos’ lead products are believed to act, in part, via post-translational modification (glutathionylation) of critical regulatory proteins that mediate processes including immune function, cell proliferation and tumor progression (in combination with chemotherapy). They may also sensitize tumor cells to certain chemotherapeutic drugs by modifying drug detoxification processes.

Answer 3

It's a side affect of the cancer. If her levels get to low she will need a transfusion.

Answer 4

She is possibly anemic or bleeding from somewhere

Answer 5

because it iis still going to attack the blood cells and restrict them.