Can Solid Tumors Affect the Blood?
The answer may be more complex than you think. In rare instances, metastatic solid tumors can have detrimental effects on the blood. Conventional chemotherapy treatments for solid tumors can also affect the blood and the ability of blood cells to protect against infection. Sometimes, when solid tumors metastasize to the bone marrow (the spongy tissue inside bones), blood cells may be affected. The bone marrow—which produces blood cells—cannot function properly. The result can be three different conditions that affect the blood, called neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia. Neutropenia results from low levels of white blood cells called neutrophils, which protect against bacteria and fungi by engulfing them like Pac-Man. Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which there are low levels of blood platelets, which help the blood to clot. Anemia results from low levels of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the organs. Some solid tumors called adenocarcinomas, or tumors of glandular tiss
