Your bone marrow makes cells called platelets. These cells keep you from bleeding too much by helping your blood clot. Chemotherapy, radiation, and bone marrow transplants can destroy some of your platelets.
If you do not have enough platelets, you may bleed too much. Everyday activities can cause this bleeding. You need to know how to prevent bleeding and what to do if you have bleeding.
Talk with your doctor before you take any drugs, herbs, or other supplements. Do not take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve), or other drugs unless your doctor tells you it is okay to.
Be careful not to cut yourself:
Take care of your teeth:
Do not get constipated:
Other tips:
Woman should not use tampons. Call your doctor if your periods are heavier than normal.
If you cut yourself:
Know what to do if you have a nosebleed:
Call your doctor if you have any of these symptoms:
National Cancer Institute. Chemotherapy and you: support for people who have cancer (PDQ). June 29, 2007. Accessed May 22, 2010.
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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