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What Causes Drop In Haemoglobin Level After A Surgery For Cancer Treatment?
I had stage to cancer surgery where the ileostomy. The ileostomy was reversed and November after chemotherapy. My hemoglobin has been dropping from 16 down to nine my ferritin is at eight. I am having difficulty getting answers from my oncologist hematologist. My gastroenterologist found losing a blood at the anastomosis during lavage but found no obvious source found but if he is actively using blood from a friable Anastomosis that may be a source of blood loss . Today he said there was nothing that can be done to stop the bleeding. I have been told there are non-surgical procedures that can be done. The gastroenterologist seem convinced I needed iron infusion whereas the hematologist doesn t seem to know what s going i m having shortness of breath and other symptoms. i m having shortness of breath and other symptoms.
posted on
Mon, 4 Jul 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sat, 30 Nov 2019
Answered on
Mon, 2 Dec 2019
Last reviewed on
Hi,
Based on the history you have shared, the shortness of breath is most likely due to low hemoglobin and that in turn is due to blood loss likely and so is low ferritin. Iron infusion seems likely to help as well as surgical option is likely to help with leak of blood. Non invasive or minimally invasive methods should be discussed but if it had been possible gastroenterologist might have suggested so during colonoscopy.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin, General & Family Physician
Based on the history you have shared, the shortness of breath is most likely due to low hemoglobin and that in turn is due to blood loss likely and so is low ferritin. Iron infusion seems likely to help as well as surgical option is likely to help with leak of blood. Non invasive or minimally invasive methods should be discussed but if it had been possible gastroenterologist might have suggested so during colonoscopy.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin, General & Family Physician
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