Can liver cancer cause low hemoglobin

Can liver cancer cause low hemoglobin?

Types of cancer most often associated with low hemoglobin include cancers linked with blood loss (e.g. colon cancer) and blood cancers (e.g. leukemia and lymphoma) (4). But the question is “can liver cancer cause low hemoglobin too?“

Yes, it’s possible. In fact, nearly every cancer can metastasize, or spread from where it started and travel to your bone marrow. Then, like leukemia and lymphoma, they could affect the number of blood cells your bone marrow makes (5).

Anemia, which is caused by lower than normal levels of hemoglobin, is a common side effect in patients with cancer. Some common causes are:

– Cancer itself

– Cancer treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapy

– Blood loss

– Missing certain vitamins or minerals in the diet

– Low iron levels

– Major organ problems

– Red blood cells being destroyed by the body before they’re replaced

– The body makes fewer RBCs

– Having chronic kidney disease

– Having conditions like sickle cell disease or thalassemia

– A combination of these factors (3)

* You can enter your CBC test results online and get a personalized interpretation, including your condition in each test, definition, reasons for increased or decreased results, dietary and lifestyle recommendations, potential treatments, drug interactions, etc.

Hemoglobin

Hemoglobin (Hb) is an iron-rich protein in red blood cells that are needed to carry oxygen. If you have too few or abnormal red blood cells, or not enough hemoglobin, there will be a decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues (1).

The optimal Hgb concentration needed to meet physiologic needs varies by age, sex, the elevation of residence, smoking habits, and pregnancy status, but in general, are:

· Men                                                   14.0 to 17.5 g/dl

· Women                                             12.3 to 15.3

· 6 months to <2 years                     11.0 to 13.5

· 2-6 years                                          11.0 to 13.7

· 6-12 years                                        11.2 to 14.5

· 12 to <18 years:

o Female                                11.4 to 14.7

o Male                                    12.4 to 16.4 (1,2,6)

References:

1. https://www.who.int/health-topics/anaemia#tab=tab_1
2. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/image?imageKey=PEDS%2F101544
3. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/low-blood-counts/anemia.html
4. https://www.verywellhealth.com/anemia-and-cancer-797397#:~:text=Hemoglobin%20is%20a%20protein%20in,colon%20cancer%20and%20cervical%20cancer
5. https://www.webmd.com/cancer/cancer-and-anemia
6. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/image?imageKey=HEME%2F76236