Joe B Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 well - had my first blood draw this morning after my first round of taxotere last Monday (1/5). Oncologist office just called my wbc is down to .6 (yes, thats point 6 ). It is critically low. It was 8.4 last monday (well within normal range at that time). They told me to give my self neupogen shots for 5-6 consecutive days. I already have administered todays dose. I went low on cisplatin as well (1.1 was the lowest) but never this low. I have in the past two rounds bounced back quickly, but I am wondering if I am alone in terms of dipping this low? Also, Neupogen after just two days last time brought me OVER the high end of the normal range. Anyone know why my wbc's seem to go so low ?(the other counts (RBC, HGB...) do not dive nearly as much)Obviously, i am staying inside and avoiding contact with others...... Thanks.. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ry Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 Hopefully the shots will get it climbing back up. Be very careful, John's went down low like that and he ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. There is just too much stuff going around right now, stay in like you are and be careful. You are real prone to infection right now. All the best, Joe, hang in there. I'm close if you need anything just call. Rochelle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe B Posted January 12, 2004 Author Share Posted January 12, 2004 thanks Rochelle, I sent the book back to you thru my daughter Aly- hope you got it ok.. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadstimeon Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 Hi Joe, My first two chemo treatments dropped my platelets very very low to the point I had to get two transfusions. They also adjusted the chemo after that and had no problem. No problem with white or red blood cells. Can’t answer why that low. I’m sure someone else will. Below is a good site to hit for information on Hematologic (Blood) Effects. Hang in there you are a strong young man. You’ll rebound. Hope this helps. Peace, take care and God Bless. http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html (Lung Cancer Online / Hematologic (Blood) Effects) Rich ************************************************************* The Power Of People Helping People / The Power Of Knowledge / The Power Of God / The Power Of Believing / The Power Of Positive Thinking / The Power Of Never Taking No For An Answer / United We Stand, Divided We Fall / That’s The Key ************************************************************* http://www.plwc.org/plwc/MainConstructo ... 008,00.asp (PLWC Feature: Financial Support Resources) 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 (Questions to Ask the Doctor) 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) ************************************************************ If I Could Catch a Rainbow: If I could catch a rainbow, I would do it just for you, And share with you its beauty, On the days you’re feeling blue. If I could build a mountain, You call your very own, A place to find serenity, A place to be alone. If I could take your troubles, I would toss them in the sea, But all these things I’m finding, Are impossible for me. I cannot build a mountain, Or catch a rainbow fair, But let me be what I know best A friend that’s always there. Author Unknown ************************************************************* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 Joe, My mom went down to 1.8 and they said that was nothing, they have seen many many people near 0. Keep giving yourself those shots and be ready for the next round. Good luck! By the way, have you gotten a pneumonia shot? My mom got one right at diagnosis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 Joe My WBC's have also been very low and I have been giving myself the Neupogen shots for quite a few weeks. The more chemo treatments you have the more your WBC goes down. The shots will bring it back up again, it always did with mine Bess B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanCarl Posted January 12, 2004 Share Posted January 12, 2004 Ouch! Kind of a rough time of the year for the bodies "soldiers" to go AWOL. Keep taking those shots and keep taking care of yourself. Dean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe B Posted January 12, 2004 Author Share Posted January 12, 2004 Thanks all......I am sure I will be fine, I just thought that was a tad REAL low........ I feel them regenerating already ! peace. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhutch1366 Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 Joe, You're young and strong and otherwise in good shape. You might want to find some of the surgical masks ( the cloth ones, not the shaped ones) to wear, especially around the kids if they start to sneeze... fortunately middle schoolers are better about hygiene than elementary school kids. I hope the neupogen does the trick. I had low red cells, whole different story. It's nice that you live near Rochelle. Good luck with the rest of your chemo. God bless, MaryAnn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrea B. Posted January 13, 2004 Share Posted January 13, 2004 Dear Joe, My mom's white blood cell counts dropped very low (I think her lowest was .7) and her platelet count dropped very low as well (needed transfusions) when she was taking Taxotere. She took the Neuproen shots and it helped to bring her counts back up. Just a warning that the shots draw from your bone marrow, so sometimes can cause bone pain. This only happened with my mom's first shot. Keep inside surrounded by your loving family until your counts go up. All my best to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO_Sugar Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 The lowest I got was .4 and then they put me in the hospital in reverse isolation for 3 days with transfusions. Felt better by the second day but they wanted to be sure I hadn't "picked up" anything. After that I could always tell when my count was low so I would call and get a shot or a transfusion if needed. Hang in there cause it does get better! God Bless, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Cheryl- Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Joe, Hang in there guy. Just stay away from people for now. Carry antibacterial gel with you. Wear a mask if you do go out! I never had a problem with the white blood cell count, just the RBC. I am impressed also that you had an appetite during chem! Good for you, you need your strength! The steriods made me restless with absolutely no appetite, I lost about 15 pounds. However, the weight loss could have been caused from the radiation too. It will be up in no time! Cheryl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norme Posted January 14, 2004 Share Posted January 14, 2004 Joe, that chemo reacts differently to everyone. ONly once did my Buddy's wbc drop so low and he had to have a shot to get it up. Other times it dropped but not that low. Chemo is rough.....but hopefully is killing all that bad stuff..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O Posted January 18, 2004 Share Posted January 18, 2004 I hope it means that the chemo is hitting any bad cells out there 10 times harder than it is hitting the white blood cells! I hope you are feeling stronger soon. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe B Posted January 19, 2004 Author Share Posted January 19, 2004 good news... my wbc's are back up to 8.1 (from .6 last week). Still a smidge low on RBC's HGB, and platlets. I didnt have any problems with infections... just felt a little tired for a few days.... I will get hit with Taxotere again next Monday --- and then that will leave just one treatment left (2/16/04).... thank you for the support, prayers and kind words... Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa O Posted January 19, 2004 Share Posted January 19, 2004 What wonderful news Joe!!! All those good healthy habits of yours are really paying off! I wish you the best with your next two treatments and look forward to hearing all about your big celebration to mark the end of treatment. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MO_Sugar Posted January 20, 2004 Share Posted January 20, 2004 Joe, Great News! Glad your blood popped back up into the good range. Prayers continue! God Bless, MO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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