Low Iron

jimwins

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

Finally...

I finally got my colonoscopy and upper G.I. results today from the surgeon who did them: No cancerous or pre-cancerous cells found. He did cut out a bleeding polyp, which he said might explain the anemia. I see the oncologist tomorrow.

I was surprised to see at my infusion center that a LOT of people come in for iron infusions. It is apparaently a very common thing. Thanks to all of the kind regards that I received  concerning the anemia and figuring it out.

max

Great news

Hi Max, that is great news!  Thanks for the update.  I'll take a polyp over a tumor any day !

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

jimwins said:

Great news

Hi Max, that is great news!  Thanks for the update.  I'll take a polyp over a tumor any day !

Yea !

But a fudge brownie and iced tea is better than either...

jimwins

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

Yea !

But a fudge brownie and iced tea is better than either...

Of course

Well, if we're dreaming, an exciting cruise or trip to Europe would be nice too and we could get chocolate crepes in France ☺- and that would be just after we won the big lottery. 

Hugs - Jim

 

Aaron

I'm so glad to read that they

I'm so glad to read that they didn't find anything too troublesome, I must admit I've been a bit worried about you sence this thread started. It's great that the iron is helping you feel better all around as well. I must say your new pic is creeping me out a bit, I liked the car much more be well my friend 

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

Aaron said:

I'm so glad to read that they

I'm so glad to read that they didn't find anything too troublesome, I must admit I've been a bit worried about you sence this thread started. It's great that the iron is helping you feel better all around as well. I must say your new pic is creeping me out a bit, I liked the car much more be well my friend 

Pic

I'll change the pic, Aaron. I call it my "lucky chair," the chair where I got all 12 of my chemos, and most of my iron. 

I saw the onc yesterday, and he repeated that sometimes it takes months for low iron to get back in normal range. I go back in three months, rather than my usual six. Also, I ran into numerous people getting iron infusions, as I think I mentioned above.  It is more common than I realized.

Bless you, best buddy,

max

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

Pic

I'll change the pic, Aaron. I call it my "lucky chair," the chair where I got all 12 of my chemos, and most of my iron. 

I saw the onc yesterday, and he repeated that sometimes it takes months for low iron to get back in normal range. I go back in three months, rather than my usual six. Also, I ran into numerous people getting iron infusions, as I think I mentioned above.  It is more common than I realized.

Bless you, best buddy,

max

Update

I went to the oncologist today (May 1), and got results from a blood draw last week. My Hem/RBC and iron levels were all perfectly in the normal ranges -- no more anemia.  I had not had these values tested since I went for four iron infusions (IV drip) at the Cancer Center in Feburary.

He was delighted.  I related this "low iron" episode because I learned that anemia is actually pretty common, and does not necessarily indicate any form of cancer -- stuff I was unaware of prior to going through all of this.  I met numerous patients who had to go regularly for iron IV bags, some for years.

Perhaps this is informative or comforting to someone currently anemic.

max

 

.

Rocquie

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

Update

I went to the oncologist today (May 1), and got results from a blood draw last week. My Hem/RBC and iron levels were all perfectly in the normal ranges -- no more anemia.  I had not had these values tested since I went for four iron infusions (IV drip) at the Cancer Center in Feburary.

He was delighted.  I related this "low iron" episode because I learned that anemia is actually pretty common, and does not necessarily indicate any form of cancer -- stuff I was unaware of prior to going through all of this.  I met numerous patients who had to go regularly for iron IV bags, some for years.

Perhaps this is informative or comforting to someone currently anemic.

max

 

.

Hi Max

This is a subject that confuses me mightily! I have had chemo induced anemia starting with my very first chemo. I had blood tests every week, throughout all 8 chemos. Any time my hemoglobin got below 8.0, which was many times, I had to have a blood transfusion. With the last couple of transfusions, my oncologist has become concerned about "iron overload", which apparently happens to people who receive a lot of transfusions.

Like you, I have seen people at the infusion center receiving iron. I have also seen 2 different people, 1 was a very young man and the other an older woman, who were having blood removed because they have a condition which produces too much iron in the blood.  (After their bottles were filled, the nurse walked to the trash can and unceramoniously threw it away). 

I'm glad my oncologist, who is a hematologist, understands because I sure don't. 

 Rocquie

girliefighter

GOOD NEWS

Max,

Congats on the good news...time to start whistling....sounds like they got u fixed right up...It is always great to hear good news...so happy for you...I will still pray..I pray for everyone on here daily

I guess the magnetic personality is why I am drawn to you

Carie

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

Rocquie said:

Hi Max

This is a subject that confuses me mightily! I have had chemo induced anemia starting with my very first chemo. I had blood tests every week, throughout all 8 chemos. Any time my hemoglobin got below 8.0, which was many times, I had to have a blood transfusion. With the last couple of transfusions, my oncologist has become concerned about "iron overload", which apparently happens to people who receive a lot of transfusions.

Like you, I have seen people at the infusion center receiving iron. I have also seen 2 different people, 1 was a very young man and the other an older woman, who were having blood removed because they have a condition which produces too much iron in the blood.  (After their bottles were filled, the nurse walked to the trash can and unceramoniously threw it away). 

I'm glad my oncologist, who is a hematologist, understands because I sure don't. 

 Rocquie

Overload

Roc,

I am sure that some forms of cancer cause some forms of iron deficiency. My onc rushed me into a colonoscopy and upper GI, thinking that I might be "bleeding out"  from undetected colo-rectal, but such was not the case. I then learned that excessive antacids or liver statin drugs could cause low iron as well (I used both), so low iron can be caused by a lot of things.

When I was in ICU for 25 days years ago, I received over 20 units of blood, and turned bright orange colored. The docs thought initially that I had "liver failure" from bruising of the liver, but they later realized it was from so many blood transfusions.  So, yes, lots of transfusions at times cause blood count abnormalities.  

If they feel your low iron is infusion-related or transfusion-related and not cancer, be happy ! At times, doctors just cannot figure out what is causing something. They rule out the worst, likely issues, and ride along, hoping for the best. 

MAX

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

girliefighter said:

GOOD NEWS

Max,

Congats on the good news...time to start whistling....sounds like they got u fixed right up...It is always great to hear good news...so happy for you...I will still pray..I pray for everyone on here daily

I guess the magnetic personality is why I am drawn to you

Carie

Naw

Carie,

That, or my stunning good looks !   (See picture, at left.)

max

Folks24

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3 said:

Naw

Carie,

That, or my stunning good looks !   (See picture, at left.)

max

Iron, etc.

Love the picture.  Love to see smiles.

We must have a similiar sense of humor. I have two markers in my body and asked the doctor if I would set off the metal detectors in the airport. I won't - durn it- no fun!