Which medication is best to treat anemia? Procrit or Aranesp?
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Q: Does hypoxia undermine my chemo treatment and my prognosis?
Answers (2)
4/ 1/10 6:06am
Hi - As I understand it, a hypoxic tumor (which I assume you're describing) can prove resistant to treatment, as the drugs (or radiation) just aren't able to infiltrate it very effectively. It does help to treat the patient with drugs to boost their red cell level, and thus try to carry more oxygen to the tumor to relieve the hypoxia. As for which drug would be best for you, only your oncologist has the specific information regarding your diagnosis to make that call; I'd take his/her advice. Good luck to you - PJH
4/ 1/10 6:10am
The underlying reason for the hypoxia would probably be the main factor here. If you have a chronic condition like COPD causing the lack of oxygen to your cells, your oncologist and other doctors need to work closely together. Your oncologist is the best person to evaluate whether you need a drug like Procrit to keep you blood levels up (probably yes, given the hypoxia problem), and which one is the best for you. Make a list of written questions to ask the oncologist and your regular doctor about how these conditions will affect each other.
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By globaljeannie— Last Modified: 12/26/10, First Published: 03/31/10
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Hello PJH, I read up a little on hypoxic tumors. Are there any standard tests to detect hypoxic tumors or can drs glean that info from mri, biopsy etc?
I dont rem my docs mentioning or testing me for it..or they might have and I never realized it....