LindaMRG Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Hello Friends, Last Friday my father was unable to be given chemo as his platelet count was too low. I asked if there was something he could be given, but nurse said there is a drug but the side effects are not worth it, so it is not given at that treatment center. She said that we just need to wait for the bone marrow on its own. Is there anything we could do? Doc wasnt concerned about him missing a treatment, he said it told him chemo was doing its work, but I wouldnt want to miss too many. Thanks, my friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieB Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 What about the injections that boost blood counts and blood transfusions? Have they offered anything like this? I know in my dad's case they tried the arenesp injections twice before they decided he needed a transfusion and then all was back on track for him. Even now, six months after his last transfusion, he still gets an arenesp shot every other week before chemo. Praying for you and your dad. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaMRG Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 Thank you, Katie, Im writing that down for onc on Friday!! Hope your special dad is feeling good these days!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Candy Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Hugh gets a weekly arensep shot, has had a transfusion (a tremendous help to his blood counts and his energy) and a weekly neulasta shot (white blood cell count). All of these have been most helpful for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmp Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 There is a drug called Neumega. The side effects are fluid retention and sometimes there is a severe allergic reaction. Ask the Dr. Maybe the nurse was talking about IL-11. I think interlukin has bad side effects. In anycase ask the Dr. http://www.mdcancer.org/types/sidefx.cf ... erTypeID=3 http://www.mdcancer.org/types/sidefx.cf ... erTypeID=3 http://www.lungcanceronline.org/effects ... fects.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdaW Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Dear Linda, When my platelet counts were low, the oncologist also told me that it showed the chemo was doing it's job. I also had to skip treatments. I was never offered any medications or transfusions--maybe the counts have to be lower than what mine were. I did have nosebleeds because of the low platelet counts--but nothing I couldn't handle. I think all of this just comes with the territory. I hope your Dad is feeling better soon, because when you have low counts, you can feel pretty lousy. Ada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 maybe something to ask the Dr about ... http://www.adherex.com/nac.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LindaMRG Posted June 16, 2003 Author Share Posted June 16, 2003 Hello Friends, Thank you so much for the great links and names that Ive copied down to ask onc about on Friday. I knew I could count on my "experts"!!! Youre all such a great bunch of people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimblanchard Posted June 16, 2003 Share Posted June 16, 2003 Aranesp won't help platelets. Platelets help the blood to clot. They can give transfustions of jut platelets but I was not offered this either. I guess they tend to come up rather quickly on their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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