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Aussie Girl · 03-14-2014, 03:50 AM

Dear Linn,

Yes, those counts mean you are anemic. If the MCV was low, it might be iron deficiency, although some hereditary blood cell disorders cause it. If you had a low MCV all your life, it might be hereditary. Iron deficiency is very common and chemo puts demands on your internal iron stores. You have had surgery recently, but that would only tip you into anemia if you were already low. You might need an iron supplement. Also you might need to be checked for blood loss (from the gut, from heavy periods etc.)

If the MCV was high there are lots of causes - mainly low folate or Vit B12, but also drugs (including chemo drugs), alcohol, low thyroid function etc.

Your doctor should be able to work this out for you. Getting your red cell count back to normal will help you feel much better.

Aussie Girl

03-14-2014, 03:50 AM	#5
Aussie Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Posts: 260	Re: Elevated CPK and Myoglobin ??? Dear Linn, Yes, those counts mean you are anemic. If the MCV was low, it might be iron deficiency, although some hereditary blood cell disorders cause it. If you had a low MCV all your life, it might be hereditary. Iron deficiency is very common and chemo puts demands on your internal iron stores. You have had surgery recently, but that would only tip you into anemia if you were already low. You might need an iron supplement. Also you might need to be checked for blood loss (from the gut, from heavy periods etc.) If the MCV was high there are lots of causes - mainly low folate or Vit B12, but also drugs (including chemo drugs), alcohol, low thyroid function etc. Your doctor should be able to work this out for you. Getting your red cell count back to normal will help you feel much better. Aussie Girl __________________ 31mm Infiltrating duct carcinoma Grade 3, ER/PR-, HER2+, Neg Sentinel nodes x 5 49mm field of DCIS 17 June '13: Screen detected impalpable mass, Mammogram neg, US. 25 June '13: Diagnosed after multiple biopsies and MRIs 28 June '13: Left lumpectomey 4 July '13: Left Mastectomy 12 August '13: Commenced TCH chemo Mid December '13 : TCH finished. Herceptin continuing three weekly. 4 August 2014- Herceptin infusions finished. END OF THERAPY - YAY!