Is anemia associated with prostate cancer or treatment?

ADT drugs and ARPI drugs can reduce your blood counts to the point that some people can get anemia. This is not a common problem. Somebody with genetic problems that allows them to take a PARP inhibitor especially have this problem.

I went anemic while doing Lupron. Man, the struggle was real while trying to lift and carry heavy stuff. Switched to Orgovyx and it corrected itself in 3 months but lipids started to rise. Both worked and drove my T very low.

I don’t have any symptoms of anemia, but my platelet count continues to drop - perhaps related to the radiation therapy, not to the prostate cancer diagnosis. (All my other bloodwork is within normal range.) At my last check, platelet count was down to 108K; we’re monitoring it.

@asgmiami1, did you have anemia before your diagnosis of prostate cancer? Or did it start with treatment?

Hormone therapy made me slightly anemic. Blood counts returned to normal after stopping that therapy.

@colleenyoung I developed anemia while on Lupron. I really noticed it whenever I lifted and carried something heavy. I would be huffing and puffing and had to recover for a few moments. After switching to Orgovyx at 3 months back to normal. I thought the comparison was interesting. wondering if others had the same experience?

@colleenyoung
I haven’t had an official diagnosis as of yet, we’re still doing testing. I’m in the whole wait and wait some more phase.
But I did recently have a follow up cbc and the results were all within normal ranges. I think my workout the morning of my blood draw effected my numbers.

I became extremely anemic after 7 months on ORGOVYX and 44 radiation treatments. I was pale very weak, exhausted for no reason and struggling to walk. Oncologist looked at me and said “you look awful”, yep and that’s how I feel. He said I needed a blood transfusion. I said no way! But then he guaranteed me I would feel better within one day. Well he was 100% correct. It was like magic. My wife said I came back from the dead. That blood transfusion was just about 8 months ago and I’m monitored closely and so far have not need another. Been on ORGOVYX for 15 months now and numbers have been good (PSA & Testosterone) but I’m weak and struggle to walk any distance. Original schedule was 18 months of ORGOVYX, hope that’s still the plan. All the best to you, God Bless. Ken