Anemia in men with advanced prostate cancer: incidence, etiology, and treatment.

Anemia associated with advanced prostate cancer is a common occurrence. This article reviews the incidence and examines the various causes of this condition, including androgen deprivation, nutritional decline, bone marrow infiltration, treatment-related toxicity, and the chronic inflammatory state. Treatment of anemia in men with advanced prostate cancer is also discussed. In patients with limited bone marrow reserve, blood transfusions may be the only effective treatment.