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Blood transfusion


Andrea

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Hi. I am curious if anyone else experienced this. My mom had her first cycle of Carbo/Gemzer with two weeks on, one week off.

She started second cycle had Carbo/Gemzar last Friday and they were going to give her Gemzar today, but instead they sent her to the outpatient area of the hospital for a blood transfusion b/c her numbers were low. She has been extra exhausted too. And tomorrow we hope she resumes chemo.

Has anyone else had to get blood transfusions while on chemo?

Sometimes I feel so new to this all, and yet most times so old to this all even though we have only been battling a bit over a month now.

Thanks!

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Hi Andrea,

Sorry to hear about your mom. I had the same problem after my first 2 treatments (Carbo/Gemzer ) I received also. It was my platelets that went south. I had to get transfusions (platelet) after each (first 2) treatment. They did make adjustments and I had no problems while I was on chemo after that. Chemo does affect white and red blood cells also. Counts also have to be at a certain range to receive chemo. Take one step at time and one day at a time. Research as much as you can. Stay positive and focused. Praying for your mom. Hope this helps. Peace, take care and God Bless.

Rich

PS: See website below for more info.

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html (Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects)

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http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/healt ... hqcanc.htm (Best Hospitals)

https://www.alcase.org/advocacy/sign_the_petition.html (Advocacy /Sign the Petition)

http://www.cancersymptoms.org (Oncology Nursing Society)

http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 08,00.html http://www.alcase.org/education/publica ... reath.html (With Every Breath A Lung Cancer Guidebook / From ALCASE / A Wealth Of Information / Free)

http://www.cancersurvivaltoolbox.org (The Cancer Survival Toolbox / Free / From NCCS)

http://www.centerwatch.com (Clinical Trails Listing Service / Center Watch)

http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&editi ... ung+cancer (Lung Cancer In The News)

http://www.thewellnesscommunity.org/pro ... /guide.asp (The Wellness Community / National Cancer Support, Education And Support / Free)

http://www.drugs.com (Drug Information Online)

http://www.alcase.org (ALCASE / Alliance For Lung Cancer Advocacy, Support, Education)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov (Unites States / National Library Of Medicine)

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/encyclopedia.html (Health Information / Medical Encyclopedia)

http://www.google.com (Great Search Engine)

http://blochcancer.org (R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, Inc. / Please read: A Letter to all newly diagnosed cancer patients)

http://www.cancer.org (American Cancer Society)

http://www.cancer.gov (Cancer Information Service / NCI)

http://www.cancerresearchcenter.org (Cancer Research Center)

http://www.aicr.org (American Institute for Cancer Research; Nutrition Hotline / AICR)

http://www.cancerhopenetwork.org (Cancer Hope Network)

http://www.acor.org (Association of Cancer Online Resources / Free Online Lifeline For Everyone Affected By Cancer & Related Disorders)

http://www.meds.com/lung/lunginfo.html (Lung Cancer Information Library)

http://www.lungusa.org (American Lung Association)

http://www.ama-assn.org (American Medical Association)

http://www.docguide.com/news/content.ns ... g%20Cancer (Doctor’s Guide / Lung Cancer)

http://www.healthfinder.gov/Scripts/Sea ... ?topic=506 (Healthfinder)

http://www.medicinenet.com/Lung_Cancer/article.htm (Medicine Net)

http://www.cancerindex.org/clinks2l.htm (Cancer Index / Lung Cancer Resources Directory)

http://www.nfcr.org/site/PageServer?pag ... ncers_lung (National Foundation For Cancer Research)

http://www.patientadvocate.org (Patient Advocate Foundation)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html (Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects)

http://www.cancerlinks.org/lung.html (Lung Cancer Links)

http://www.cancer-free.com (Cancer Free Connections)

http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/C ... ung_cancer (Health Insite)

http://www.lungcancerclaims.com (Lung Cancer / Lung Cancer Information Page)

http://www.cancerlifecenter.com/engine. ... =dictionar (Cancer Life Center/ Cancer Dictionary)

http://www.canceryellowpages.com/Resour ... G%20CANCER (Cancer yellow Pages)

http://icare.org (ICARE / The International Cancer Alliance)

http://www.vh.org/index.html (Virtual Hospital)

http://www.lungcanceronline.org/support/financial.html (Lung Cancer Online / Financial, Legal & Insurance Issues)

http://cancernews.healthology.com/focus ... cancernews (Cancer News)

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Andrea,

I too had to have a blood transfusion. As Rich said it was because my red blood count was low and also the Hemoglobin was too low. I was receiving Taxol/Carboplatin though. It happens with almost all chemos, your counts go down. Is she getting Procrit shots? That is usually given to increase red blood counts and given after chemo. You might want to ask your mom's oncologist. These are just a few suggestions.

I see you are in Irvine. Does your mom go to Hoag Hospital. They are supposed to have a very good Lung Program there. I live in Corona, but considering going to either Hoag or Cedars in Los Angeles.

If you have any questions you can also PM me.

God Bless and prayers for you and your mom...

Karen

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HI, Carbo/ gemzar is the chemo I'm currently on . I'm here to tell you the 1st week with just gemzar I wasn't sure I could contiue, luckily I let the oncologist nurse know and now for six day after the infusiuon I take a low dose of decadron(steriod), fortunately so far my blood counts have stayed okay, I eat a lot right now and am getting puffy from the steroids, but the other sided effects were horrible with out them for me, but then again, everyone is different. David

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When I was on Carbo/Taxol, after the 2nd cycle, I had to receive two units of blood. I also had 2 cycles pushed back a week because of low white cell counts. Nothing unusual to have to get blood transfusions while on chemo. That's why you get the weekly blood counts.

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Karen mentioned Procrit shots. The generic name is epoetin alpha. There is another drug available, darbopoetin. You might ask the oncologist about putting her on one of these drugs. Medicare pays for them.

I've had patients tell me they felt 100% better after a transfusion. The anemia can not only halt your chemotherapy, it can make you feel rotten. I hope your Mom feels better. Best wishes, Teresa

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Karen mentioned Procrit shots. The generic name is epoetin alpha. There is another drug available, darbopoetin. You might ask the oncologist about putting her on one of these drugs. Medicare pays for them.

I've had patients tell me they felt 100% better after a transfusion. The anemia can not only halt your chemotherapy, it can make you feel rotten. I hope your Mom feels better. Best wishes, Teresa

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I have adenocarcinoma of the lung. Dx in 4/2001 I an currently in my second remission, thanks to God and the Doctors and the chemo/radiation. While i was on Gemzar in the summer of 2003 I had to receive 3 blood transfusions, with 2 units given each time. Gemzar really does a number on the bone marrow. I did feel better post transfusions.

Good Luck and God Bless

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