anemic still??

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juliababy
juliababy Member Posts: 130
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
My dad just had some routine blood work done and he remains anemic. Two years ago when he was first diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer he was also anemic but i'm just wondering why the numbers even after surgery and chemo and again 2 years later are still low. If if remember clearly the hemoglobulin (sp??) leverl was at 12.9. Is anyone out there still anemic even after being successfully treated???

His scans are coming up now (june 27th) and I'm nervous as anything. Any prayers would certainly be appreciated,

thanks again everyone,

susana

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  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #2
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    Susana,
    You are a wonderful daughter to be sooo concerned.
    I have been borderline anemic all of my life. At least the times that I have known...I am a member (sigh...PAST member..they don't want me now cause of my cancer...darn it!) of the 5 gallon club for blood donation. Half the time they had to 'spin' it because my little drop wouldn't drop.
    It's wise to be watchful, always, but if the docs are not concerned, take a deep breath. I have kept all of my labs since meeting the beast...and so I can calm my fears whenever I want to.

    Hugs to dad and to you, his grand daughter!
    Kathi
  • lfondots63
    lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
    #3
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    Hi susana,

    I was dx with stage 3 colon cancer last December. I'm enemic while on chemo and getting shots for it. My chemo nurse also said to take iron pills of 325mg. You can get them in the drugstore with that dosage. Just ask a pharmasist since they are "mega dose". The number you have in your post isn't real low. Right now I'm at 9.8 at my last test. I believe I'm trying to get to 14 so they take me off the shot. Maybe just some extra iron in his diet will help? Does he live beef liver? That is high in iron. Good luck and HUGS!

    Lisa
  • cherriann
    cherriann Member Posts: 155 Member
    #4
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    i have been anemic fom the get go but i stiil have much treatment left. my prayers will be with you both.
    cherri
  • WendyMarie
    WendyMarie Member Posts: 48
    #5
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    I have problems with anemia also and was diagnosed three years ago at stage 3. I find I really have to pay attention to my diet and when I do the hemoglobin usually comes back up.

    You and your dad are in my prayers.

    Wendy
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #6
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    Hi Susana -

    Your Dad's hemoglobin is not particularly low. Reference ranges (the range that is considered normal) vary slightly from lab to lab based upon their equipment and experience. A recent HGB of mine (late April at NIH) was 13.9. Their range of normal values is 11.1 - 15.0. Your Dad is certainly in that range with a 12.9.

    I went back to look at the lab work from just before my colon surgery when I absolutely was symptomatically anemic - pale gums, hypotension episodes. My hemoglobin was 9.9 and that particular lab had a reference range of 11.7 - 15.5. (Again your Dad's 12.9 is in the normal range.)

    So, I'm not a doc, but I don't think your Dad's 12.9 HGB sounds so bad. You might also want to know his hematocrit (HCT)- mine was only 31.5 prior to surgery (range 35.0 - 45.0 from that lab) - and again I had symptoms of anemia. In late April 2006 at NIH it was 40.2 (range 31.8 - 43.2). You can see how the reference ranges are different. In case you thought medicine was about absolutes!

    So you need to talk to his doctor, but if you have the hemoglobin number right, he may at most be very borderline anemic - or maybe even not at all.

    Good luck with his scans. I know exactly how much you worry about those - mine are coming up on 6/29.

    Take care,
    Betsy

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