Haemoglobin (HGB)

What it is

Haemoglobin is the iron-containing protein inside red blood cells that binds oxygen. HGB level is the primary marker used to diagnose and grade anaemia, and the one most directly linked to symptoms like fatigue and breathlessness.

Why it matters

Anaemia during chemotherapy is extremely common and directly impacts quality of life, functional capacity, and sometimes treatment tolerability. Tracking HGB through cycles lets you connect symptoms to blood values and discuss intervention options (iron, erythropoietin, transfusion) with your team.

How to test

Full blood count.