Combating Chemotherapy-Related Anemia: Fatigue Is A Serious Problem that Plagues Thousands of Patients (NAPSA)—Fall is an ideal time for outdooractivities, but not if you are one of the thousands of patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy. Approximately 71 percent of these patients experience chemotherapyrelated anemia—adebilitating side effect characterized by feelings of extreme weakness and exhaustion. Anemiais a condition in which the body does not produce enough red blood cells, which carry oxygen needed for muscles and organs to engage in daily activity. Anemia can make accomplishing the smallest daily tasks, such as cooking or taking a shower, extremely difficult and can lead patients to feel discouraged or frustrated. Fortunately, chemotherapyrelated anemia is often manageable and treating it can help patients regain red blood cells and the energy to enjoy their everyday activities. “Chemotherapy-related side effects, such as anemia, do not have to put an end to the simple things in life that cancer patients enjoy and that improve their sense of well-being,” said Edith Peterson Mitchell, M.D., Clinical Professor of Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University. “Following the advice of healthcare professionals can help patients improve their ability to engage in everyday activities and cope with the disease.” In addition, Dr. Mitchell recom- mends the following strategies to help cancer patients manage chemotherapy side effects and enjoy their daily tasks: Talk with your doctor about anemia—People undergoing chemotherapy who think they Avoid alecohol—Alcohol can be especially dangerous for someone undergoing chemotherapy, because chemotherapy can decrease the body’s ability to clot blood, putting a patient at greater risk for blood loss due to injury. ee eran a might be suffering from anemia should see their doctor for a simple blood test. Fortunately, anemia is a treatable condition and prescription medicines such as ProcriT (Epoetin alfa) can help. * Conserve energy—You can accomplish more by spreading your activities throughout the day. Be sure to go at your own pace and ask for help when necessary. * Drink plenty of water— Staying well-hydrated can help keep unpleasant side effects such as mouth, throat and gum problems to a minimum. e Beat the heat—If the weatheris extremely hot, consider staying in air-conditioned places or if outside, in the shade. If you mustbe outside, try to avoid being out between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p-m. when the sunis strongest. Protect yourself from the sun—Sensitivity to sunlight increases during chemotherapy treatment. Protect yourself by wearing sunscreen and sunglasses to prevent exposed skin from burning and to avoid damage caused by harmful UVrays. Wear hats—Hair loss is a common side effect of chemotherapy. To protect your scalp from the sun, it is important to cover your head with a hator scarf. Eat well-balanced meals— Eating right will help ensure that you have the energy to stay active and provide your body with the vitamins and minerals it needs. Enjoy yourself—Doactivities that you enjoy and make you feel good such as listening to music, bird watching, looking at pleasantpictures. Ortho Biotech Products, L.P. is offering these tips in an effort to help cancer patients suffering from chemotherapy-related side effects enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Ortho Biotech markets PROCRIT, an injectable medication used to treat chemotherapyrelated anemia for most types of cancer. PrRocRIT is proven and safe. PRoCRIT is available by prescription only and is injected by your doctor or nurse. In studies, diarrhea, edema, fever, vomiting, shortness of breath, tingling, and upperrespiratory infection occurred more often with Procrit than placebo. Although high blood pressure has been noted rarely in cancer patients treated with Procrit, blood pressure should be monitored carefully, particularly in patients with a history of high blood pressure or heart disease. For full U.S. Prescribing Infor- mation and additional information on PROCRIT and anemia, visit www.procrit.com. wn ee ee eee OT ee eee Note to Editors: September is Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month; October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
