In some cases, blood disorders are related to other diseases and conditions. Chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease can affect the production of erythropoietin, an important glycoprotein that stimulates the production of red blood cells. An inadequate number of red blood cells reduces the amount of oxygen delivered throughout the body and can represent a serious complication to patients of chronic illness.
In cancer patients, chemotherapy can cause blood disorders. Chemotherapy — the use of drugs to treat cancer — works by seeking and attacking fast-growing cells. In addition to attacking cancerous cells, chemotherapy also kills normal cells, including a certain type of white blood cells called neutrophils, which help the body fight infection. About half of the 1.6 million chemotherapy patients in the United States are at risk for developing lower than normal white blood cell counts — a condition called neutropenia. This places them at potential risk for infection and can postpone chemotherapy treatments.
