Dr. Vinh-linh B. Nguyen, MD

Yes. CBC stands for "complete blood count". Anemia is a blood condition, defined by a lower than normal level of red blood cell. Thus CBC is how we find out if someone is anemic.

No you do not. Bone marrow biopsy is an outpatient procedure that is performed with local numbing medication. Typically, you can drive to the appointment, have the biopsy done, and then drive home by yourself.

All cancer treatments have side effects. These side effects vary with different types of cancer, different anti-neoplastic drugs. It would be difficult to list all of the possible side effects, but if you know what medications you are getting, you can get more information on those specific drugs by talking to your oncologist or going to a reputable medical website.

Mild sedation is optional for bone marrow biopsy. Just make plans accordingly, since if you receive sedation, you will need someone to drive you home.

High hemoglobin level, or polycythemia, can be serious depending on the level. As the concentration of hemoglobin in your blood increases, the viscosity increases. A more viscous blood slows down the circulation, especially in the small, tiny arteries called capillaries. These capillaries are the final destination of your arterial system - they are an extensive network of small blood vessels that deliver oxygen to all tissue in the body, and if you connect all the capillaries, they can be scores of thousand miles. When circulation slows down due to high viscosity, oxygen delivery slows down, and you feel sluggish. In severe cases, the circulation may be so impaired that one particular area may not get enough oxygen to stay alive, and that can cause irreversible damage to that area. When you have this condition, you need phlebotomy to remove the excess hemoglobin. You also need to see a hematologist to find out why the hemoglobin is high. Ideally, you always what to identify and treat the root cause. All of these steps are done at a doctor's office, unless you sustain tissue damage (such as a stroke or heart attack) due to exceedingly high level of hemoglobin.

Vinh-Linh Nguyen, M.D.

If iron is low enough, patients can have unusual cravings such as craving for ice, clay, metal, etc. It is called pica. Another way behavior can be affected is if iron deficiency causes severe anemia. Anemia refers to a blood condition where you do not have enough hemoglobin to transport oxygen to your brain and vital organs. This decrease in oxygen delivery can cause many symptoms, including, but not limited to fatigue, shortness of breath, palpitations, impaired cognitive functions, and many others. On the other hand, behavior changes can be a manifestation of so many other problems. Only a thorough medical evaluation can establish the diagnosis and the cause.

If it is a simple blood clot, localized, non-extensive, with no evidence of migrating to the lungs (a condition called pulmonary embolism), you typically just stay one day to get the blood thinner medication started. There are times when you need to stay longer, for example, if the clot is very extensive (which may require a procedure called "thrombectomy," or insertion of a temporary IVC filter), or if the clot has broken off and traveled to the lungs, causing pulmonary embolism.

Vinh-Linh Nguyen, M.D.

The duration of treatment varies, depending on the exact type of lymphoma, as well as the stage at the time of diagnosis. At your daughter's age, the most common type of lymphoma is Hodgkin lymphoma, and the treatment may last anywhere between 3-6 months.

Scans generally do not detect or diagnosed blood disorders. There are a few exceptions for this, including some blood disorders that can cause enlarged lymph nodes, or damage of the bones. Sometimes the bone marrow appearance can be the first clue that there is a problem with the blood.
Therefore the choice of scan depends on what kind of blood disorder, and what the clinician is looking for.

To answer your question, it is first important to understand how radiation works. Radiation is a form of x-ray, created by a machine that accelerates electrons to a very high speed. This stream of electrons is shaped into a beam and is directed at the body parts intended for treatment. The radiation penetrates deep into the body, allowing it to target sites internally. The energy from radiation is high enough to create "free radicals", which are highly unstable atoms and molecules, and these free radicals cause breakage of the DNA strands, leading to death of the cells. There are two categories of damage from radiation: short-term damage and long-term damage. The kind of specific damage also depends on the site of radiation, and the amount of radiation. In general, short-term damage includes burning (similar to a bad sunburn), inflammation, swelling, ulceration of the mucus membrane. You may have fatigue, pain, and some other site-specific symptoms (depending on which part of the body is receiving the treatment). Long-term damage includes possible irreversible damage to an organ, and an increased risk of cancer. Remember that every medical treatment has side effects and risks. For cancer treatments, the side effects and risks are even more severe. Nonetheless, if a treatment is recommended, it is because the benefits far outweigh the side effects and risks.

Vinh-Linh Nguyen, M.D.

Platelets are small particles in your blood, and they are part of a complex clot forming system (coagulation) to stop bleeding. Having a low platelet count can increase the bleeding time, leading to heavy menses.There are many possible causes of low platelet count, and a hematologist can identify the cause and can determine if treatment is needed. It should also be noted that there are many other possible causes of heavy menses as well.
Vinh-Linh Nguyen, M.D.