Low Iron worries

I cant tell you how cancer might affect the iron levels. It might be better to check anemia with colon cancer. Anemia is the medical term. 

Do you have a lab report from your dad? Is only the Hgb changed or even MCV? The Hgb indicates if it is anemia. The MCV can further help a doctor to identify which might be the cause. 

Getting anemia because of low iron is quite common and does not have to mean something bad like the cancer spread. When you have an ongoing inflammation iron is normally low, pregnant womencan have low iron. Even normal completely healthy women do have anemia once a month. What I want to say is that it does not has to mean something bad especially if your father had bleedings the last few weeks...

Unfortunately I can not help you with cancer and anemia because I dont know it but your dad has an appointment next week so you can ask. But I just wanted to say that low iron does not have to mean something terrible

If your father had anemia *during treatment only* then it is likely that the chemo was the cause. FOLFOX kept my hemoglobin low. It will take time to recover. That said, the thing that led me to seek treatment that led to the discovery of the tumor was anemia. Low iron can mean a lot of things, not necessarily anemia even, so wait it out. Good luck.

worriedson714 said:

Thanks guys

@Tueffel my dad just had that lab test today there trying to find the cause 

 

@snapdragon My dad loves liverwurst but hasn't had it in a while I just mentioned it to him we didn't know it had the benefits we are getting some soon

 

@real tar heel my dad had anemia before treatment had many blood transfusions it was so bad and then during treatment . My dad hasn't been on chemo in over six months would it take that long to recover ? 

 

Thanks for all your help guys really it's huge my dad has been so lucky and blessed by god to not have his cancer spread . So it's hard not to worry about it spreading you guys help me out alot just pointing on it can be other things .

 

 

Low hemoglobin is the only thing in my blood work that has not returned to normal (it's still just below). I was lucky not to need transfusions and I was taking iron supplements for a while.

I had a nice few months after my last clean CT scan mostly not thinking about the little things that could maybe possible indicate a return of tumors. None of the little things I worried about meant anything in the end. It was only a scan + CEA number that told me something definitive. So it's hard but you have to avoid the doubt and rely on the doctors and medical evidence. If you get bogged down in questioning every little think it may drive you bananas.

Anemia is one of the ways I was led to the sphigmoidascopy that saved my life. I was in Vegas and saw a blood drive at the Palms. I thought it would be nice to pause the partying/gambling and donate. I'd always had abundant iron in my blood, they could split the apheresis donations because it was so high. At this drive they told me I was nearly anemic, then the next morning's shower saw some pink droplets falling. I made the appt. the moment I got home. Thirteen years, four major surgeries, and one full course of FOLFOX later, I take an iron suppliment pill every day, but I never seem very high on the iron test, just enough above the anemia line. Low iron may have helped warn me, but living with it I still survived to be NED for almost 6 years now, so take my tale for what it's worth......................................................Dave......PS: liverwurst, mayo, touch of mustard, on rye or sourdough. Shoot, now I'm hungry and wanting!!