ESAs work by mimicking the action of erythropoietin, a natural hormone produced by the kidneys. Erythropoietin stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells, thereby increasing oxygen delivery to tissues throughout the body. This can be crucial for cancer patients who often suffer from anemia due to the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy which destroys not only cancer cells but also rapidly dividing healthy cells like those in the bone marrow.
