How is anemia treated?
This depends upon the cause of the anemia. If the anemia is caused by not enough building blocks in the body, like iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12, the treatment includes adding these back to the body. Red blood cells can then be made, and the blood values return to normal. If the cause is chemotherapy, or sometimes radiation, then red blood cell transfusions or injections of epoietin alfa can be given. Erythropoietin is a natural hormone made by the kidneys that tells the bone marrow to make more red blood cells.
