Low platelets and bleeding
Platelets help your blood clot. When they are low, you may bruise easily or bleed more than usual.
Why it happens
Many chemotherapy drugs can lower platelets. Blood cancers, some targeted drugs, and radiation to large bone areas can too.
What helps
- Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor.
- Blow your nose gently and avoid contact sports or heavy lifting.
- Ask before taking aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or fish oil, since they can raise bleeding risk.
- Prevent constipation, since straining can cause bleeding.
- If you get a cut or nosebleed, press firmly for 10 minutes.
Call your care team right away if you have
- Bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of pressure.
- You see blood in your urine, stool, or vomit, or have black, tarry stools.
- You notice many tiny red or purple spots on your skin.
- You have a sudden bad headache, confusion, or changes in vision.
Questions to ask
- What is my platelet count, and when is it lowest?
- Which medicines should I avoid while my platelets are low?
- Could I need a platelet transfusion?
Medicines that can cause this
- Acalabrutinib
- Antithymocyte globulin (ATG)
- Apixaban
- Azacitidine
- Bendamustine
- Bortezomib
- Busulfan
- Carboplatin
- Carfilzomib
- Cisplatin
- Cladribine
- Cyclophosphamide
- Cytarabine
- Dabigatran
- Dacarbazine
- Dasatinib
- Daunorubicin
- Decitabine
- Edoxaban
- Enoxaparin
- Fludarabine
- Fluorouracil (5-FU)
- Gemcitabine
- Goserelin
- Heparin
- Hydroxyurea
- Ibrutinib
- Idarubicin
- Ifosfamide
- Isatuximab
Sources
Quick answers
- What is low platelets and bleeding during cancer treatment?
- Platelets help your blood clot. When they are low, you may bruise easily or bleed more than usual.
- Why does low platelets and bleeding happen?
- Many chemotherapy drugs can lower platelets. Blood cancers, some targeted drugs, and radiation to large bone areas can too.
- What helps with low platelets and bleeding?
- Use a soft toothbrush and an electric razor; Blow your nose gently and avoid contact sports or heavy lifting; Ask before taking aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or fish oil, since they can raise bleeding risk; Prevent constipation, since straining can cause bleeding; If you get a cut or nosebleed, press firmly for 10 minutes.
- When should I call my care team about low platelets and bleeding?
- Bleeding does not stop after 10 minutes of pressure; You see blood in your urine, stool, or vomit, or have black, tarry stools; You notice many tiny red or purple spots on your skin; You have a sudden bad headache, confusion, or changes in vision.
Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.