Low platelets need your advice!

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pepebcn
pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1
Last week we had to stop my chemo one week due to my platelets , I was in the 70,s. How long takes to recover an acceptable amount of platelets?
One week is enough? does it affects to the effectiveness of the chemo one week off ?.
Thank you in advance mates!

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  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #2
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    Pepe
    Pepe

    I was doing the Folfiri in the 70's as well, no issues and it should be ok, if your onc signs off on it. They week delay is a precautionary measure to see if platelet level rises.

    For most people, the level does go up.....for me, it does not matter, my platelet level was destroyed when I did folfox so I've been compromised ever since.

    They thought about delaying me my last week of folfiri, and I told them a week or a year would not matter for me - let's do it and finish it.

    It's an individual thing on levels rising - you may be up more next week, just depends.

    But 70's is still acceptable for treatment.

    -Craig
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #3
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    Sundanceh said:

    Pepe
    Pepe

    I was doing the Folfiri in the 70's as well, no issues and it should be ok, if your onc signs off on it. They week delay is a precautionary measure to see if platelet level rises.

    For most people, the level does go up.....for me, it does not matter, my platelet level was destroyed when I did folfox so I've been compromised ever since.

    They thought about delaying me my last week of folfiri, and I told them a week or a year would not matter for me - let's do it and finish it.

    It's an individual thing on levels rising - you may be up more next week, just depends.

    But 70's is still acceptable for treatment.

    -Craig

    Thks Craig , but does a week of delay rest effectiveness
    to the chemo?
  • Sundanceh
    Sundanceh Member Posts: 4,392 Member
    #4
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    pepebcn said:

    Thks Craig , but does a week of delay rest effectiveness
    to the chemo?

    Pepe
    I don't believe a week is going to hurt anything - sometimes a week is a nice break.

    I've always said if a week is the difference in life and death, we're all in big trouble anyway.

    You'll be ok - next time if you're still in the 70's just tell your onc that you want to stay in schedule if there are no complications. Of course, it all depends on their decision.

    I used to believe that you had to be at 100,000 or higher, but I learned that levels below that are acceptable and do no hard to your chemo regime.

    Enjoy your week off - then jump back on it - you're levels will probably rise.

    Either way, you're going to be ok.

    No worries, mate:)

    -Craig
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #5
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    Sundanceh said:

    Pepe
    I don't believe a week is going to hurt anything - sometimes a week is a nice break.

    I've always said if a week is the difference in life and death, we're all in big trouble anyway.

    You'll be ok - next time if you're still in the 70's just tell your onc that you want to stay in schedule if there are no complications. Of course, it all depends on their decision.

    I used to believe that you had to be at 100,000 or higher, but I learned that levels below that are acceptable and do no hard to your chemo regime.

    Enjoy your week off - then jump back on it - you're levels will probably rise.

    Either way, you're going to be ok.

    No worries, mate:)

    -Craig

    My chemo off is off Craig hahaha,actually tomorrow I have to see
    my onc to start again on Wednesday ! LOL. that's why I'm thinking about! BtW I must be a chemoadict since I feel better while on chemo than those particular week! LOL. Neve had major issues with chemo so not a big difference !.
    Thank you my friend BtW did you started the book! Enjoy your NED!
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #6
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    Plateletts
    If mine were down, my doctor would make me wait untl they went up. The last three of my treatments were 3 weeks apart. One week doesn't make any difference. Some people take an extended vacation and want that extra week. When my daughter was coming home from the army, I'm the one that told the doctor that she was coming and didn't want to be sick while she was here. She agreed and just scheduled it for after she left. Worked out great. Heard organ meats makes them sometimes go up, so that was my excuse to eat a bunch of gizzards - yummy. Good luck tomorrow.

    Kim
  • pepebcn
    pepebcn Member Posts: 6,331 Member
    #7
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    Annabelle41415 said:

    Plateletts
    If mine were down, my doctor would make me wait untl they went up. The last three of my treatments were 3 weeks apart. One week doesn't make any difference. Some people take an extended vacation and want that extra week. When my daughter was coming home from the army, I'm the one that told the doctor that she was coming and didn't want to be sick while she was here. She agreed and just scheduled it for after she left. Worked out great. Heard organ meats makes them sometimes go up, so that was my excuse to eat a bunch of gizzards - yummy. Good luck tomorrow.

    Kim

    Hahaha. Heard turkey too! haha!
    Thanks for your positive answer!
    Love you .
  • thirtyfiveppt
    thirtyfiveppt Member Posts: 8
    #8
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    pepebcn said:

    Hahaha. Heard turkey too! haha!
    Thanks for your positive answer!
    Love you .

    been there done that
    Hi, my onc delayed me by a week a couple of times during my fulfox treatments. I was feeling pretty bad, and appreciated the extra week. I told him that if this was going to adversely affect my outcome, then I would prefer to plow through it. He said that the delay would not be problematic. Wishing you well.
  • rogina2336
    rogina2336 Member Posts: 188
    #9
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    My husband roger had the
    My husband roger had the same problem. Craig's answer is right our onc waited until they were at least 75. That is what mayo considers the lowest they should be before allowing a chemo treatment. Have a great day!! Kim
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #10
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    Pepe
    Hi Pepe,

    My platelet level usually came up within a week when it was down.
    Interesting... since I've been taking the supplements I'm on (started in late February), my platelet level has not been low even one time since! My onc is amazed at that, as the Gemzar I'm on has its major listed side effect as low platelet levels. This was really a problem for me for awhile & my onc even had to lower my dose. He raised it in March and was worried about the platelets, but they've been fine. I think the main thing is the chlorophyll drops I add to a drink each day. Sometimes I forget though, but I always remember to take two blue-green algae capsules a day. My onc said they can't hurt you in any way and he's now starting to become a believer that they are my key to keeping my red blood count and platelets up.

    Take care-
    Lisa
  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #11
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    rogina2336 said:

    My husband roger had the
    My husband roger had the same problem. Craig's answer is right our onc waited until they were at least 75. That is what mayo considers the lowest they should be before allowing a chemo treatment. Have a great day!! Kim

    i had
    that once pepe and the stupid onc i had at that time did not stop my chemo.they just gave me 2 bags of platlets thru iv. kind of like they would give you blood....Godbless...johnnybegood
  • betina61
    betina61 Member Posts: 642 Member
    #12
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    Hi Pepe!
    It happened to me I think at least a couple of times,and the plateles bounce back at least to 100 in 3 or 4 days, so 1 week will be more than enough,I remember waiting for the results as if I was waiting for the lottery,only that the prize I was waiting for was to be able to get my chemo,and I really don't think that the delay will affect the effectiveness of your tratment.
    Hoping that next time your plateles are fine.
    One big hug for you.

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