Loretta Itri most recently worked at The Medicines Company, Inc., as the executive vice president of global health sciences and regulatory affairs. A resident of Westfield, New Jersey, Loretta Itri, MD, has worked in many leadership roles and coordinated biotech and pharma initiatives involving the government, academic institutions, and corporate organizations. 

Dr. Itri is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and has served several terms as a member of the Board of Scientific Counselors at the National Cancer Institute . 

Many cancer patients undergo chemotherapy as part of their treatment. Unfortunately, chemotherapy frequently causes anemia for cancer patients, as well as neutropenia and reduction in platelet counts. In addition to killing rapidly growing cancer cells, chemotherapy also attacks and kills cells in the bone marrow responsible for the production of red blood cells. 

When there is a shortage of red blood cells, oxygen circulation to other parts of the body is affected. This is one of the reasons why cancer patients with anemia often complain of fatigue —---because their organs are unable to function properly due to a lack of oxygen delivery to cells. 

Before commencing chemotherapy, blood count tests are done to verify the level of red blood cells. If red blood cell count is low, chemotherapy is often delayed and cancer patients are put on medications that boost the production of red blood cells.