platelets & WBC

abmb
abmb Member Posts: 311
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Don't really know if anyone can help me with this question. My husband's platelets & WBC are constantly low. Out of 10 treatments he has had 4 partial, with one of those being what they called a skeleton treatment, because his counts are low. Two weeks ago he was able to get a full treatment because of the skeleton one before, today once again platelets too low and wbc isn't where it should be either. Is there anything I can do for him to up his platelet count? What could be causing this. He did have the neulasta injections about a month ago for WBC. Any one else have this concern? Thanks for all info and God Bless you. Margaret

Comments

  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #2
    Neulasta...and Neupagen...
    Mrs. Margaret,
    During my 6 months treatments I had to do either 1-2 or 3 shots of Neupagen 1 week prior to infusion or 1 shot of Neulasta 1 week prior . Either one will up his WBC and platelets....He may be like I was ..I normally felt fine the 2nd week before starting chemo again but my counts were almost always either down or borderline. They would do my bloodwork 1 week prior to chemo and if counts were down then they gave me a shot. I did miss several treatments due to the low counts but made them back up haing treatments prolonged. The shots kept me constant after that...Good luck to you and yours.....Clift
  • Julie 44
    Julie 44 Member Posts: 476 Member
    #3
    My counts
    Hi there,
    My counts were never low enough to stop treatment but a couple of times it was border line.My oncologist said there isn't much you can do its just the way your body works...I know its hard to deal with you just want treatments done and over with...Hang in there and just make sure your hubby rests alot...I will be praying for you both....
    You being the caregiver needs and get prayers too. It is very hard on you too to go through this..Just keep your communication VERY open with each other......JULIE
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #4
    Counts
    I had to take the neupogen shots 3 days before chemo to boost my WBC and neutrophil, but it never helped with platelets. My WBC would be up because of the shots but platelets were down. If I remember correctly doctor told me there really isn't anything to bring those up except a blood transfusion. I was waiting three weeks between treatments so my counts would be good enough. Protein does help with the platelets someone. Try drinking boost with extra protein or the immune booster. That could help too.

    Kim
  • abmb
    abmb Member Posts: 311
    #5
    Buzzard said:

    Neulasta...and Neupagen...
    Mrs. Margaret,
    During my 6 months treatments I had to do either 1-2 or 3 shots of Neupagen 1 week prior to infusion or 1 shot of Neulasta 1 week prior . Either one will up his WBC and platelets....He may be like I was ..I normally felt fine the 2nd week before starting chemo again but my counts were almost always either down or borderline. They would do my bloodwork 1 week prior to chemo and if counts were down then they gave me a shot. I did miss several treatments due to the low counts but made them back up haing treatments prolonged. The shots kept me constant after that...Good luck to you and yours.....Clift

    Thank you for taking the time
    Clift - thank you for taking the time to reply. My husband did have neoprogen shots already, before the treatment 2 weeks ago. It helped and he did get the full treatment. He has been getting partial treatments and I asked are any of the treatments made up in the end and doc said no, since he gets partials. Luckily hasn't had to skip any yet. I just worry too much. Again thank you and God Bless. Margaret
  • abmb
    abmb Member Posts: 311
    #6
    Julie 44 said:

    My counts
    Hi there,
    My counts were never low enough to stop treatment but a couple of times it was border line.My oncologist said there isn't much you can do its just the way your body works...I know its hard to deal with you just want treatments done and over with...Hang in there and just make sure your hubby rests alot...I will be praying for you both....
    You being the caregiver needs and get prayers too. It is very hard on you too to go through this..Just keep your communication VERY open with each other......JULIE

    Thank you for taking the time
    Thanks, Julie for your reply. I think I am just looking for answers that aren't really out there. I think I am looking for guarantees! No one comes with a guarantee! I do keep everyone on this board in my prayers at night. God Bless you. Margaret
  • abmb
    abmb Member Posts: 311
    #7
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Counts
    I had to take the neupogen shots 3 days before chemo to boost my WBC and neutrophil, but it never helped with platelets. My WBC would be up because of the shots but platelets were down. If I remember correctly doctor told me there really isn't anything to bring those up except a blood transfusion. I was waiting three weeks between treatments so my counts would be good enough. Protein does help with the platelets someone. Try drinking boost with extra protein or the immune booster. That could help too.

    Kim

    Thank you for taking the time
    Thank you Kim for taking the time to answer. I do worry too much about his counts, but his onc is confident that everything will work out in the end. His onc hasn't run a CEA test yet either and I did question him about it, he said he only likes to do one on the last treatment, but if I wanted him to have one he would run it for us. I left it go, I realize in the long run that it would be another count I would probably worry about. Thank you again for your reply and God Bless. Margaret

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