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The Johns Hopkins Hospital Patient Information
What is Aplasia?
What is
aplasia?
How does
aplasia
happen?
How does
aplasia affect
me?
Original Date
3/02
Oncology
Revised/ Reviewed
4/18/13
Aplasia means “failure to develop”. It is a common term used in
cancer treatment to mean less blood cells are made in the bone
marrow.
Cancer cells grow quickly. Some other body cells such as blood
cells, hair cells, mouth cells and intestinal cells do as well. Cancer
treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, kill cells
that grow quickly including cancer cells and some normal cells.
Side effects are the result of the treatment’s effect on normal cells.
Your blood cells will usually be low for 7 to 14 days after your
cancer treatment. You will be at risk for infection, bleeding and
fatigue, and maybe other side effects.
Please review the side effect fact sheets or “Chemotherapy and
What can I do You” or “Radiation Therapy and You” booklets for tips to help with
to help
these problems.
myself?
Will the
aplasia get
better?
Resources
0965
Yes. Your body will usually begin to make blood cells again one
to two weeks after your blood counts drop, depending on the
treatment you get. We will check your blood counts often to
monitor the treatment’s effect on your blood cells.
You may order “Chemotherapy and You,” “Radiation
Therapy and You,” and the side effect fact sheets from the
National Cancer Institute by calling 1-800-422-6237 or
going to their website www.cancer.gov.
©2009 The Johns Hopkins Hospital