No Chemo This Week

pinky104

I flunked my lab tests this week.  Wed. of last week, my platelets were extremely low, at 26,000.  They were supposed to be 142,000 or above.  I got checked again on Friday because I was scheduled to have an epidural steroid shot for my herniated disk and back pain on Monday.  They'd only come up to 30,000 by then, so I was told I couldn't have my shot.  I had labs again this past Wed. and the report saiid my platelets were at 292,000.  I questioned that and the PA I saw agreed that sounded like an incorrect figure.  She wondered if the blood had hemolyzed.  My hemoglobin went as low as 8.7 and my hematocrit was also down all three visits.  On Wed., I had a new problem. My neutrophils were 768 and were supposed to be 1,500.  I was told that I couldn't have my chemo as I was already at risk for infection and chemo would only make the problem worse.

The PA discussed having the Neulasta shot, which I don't want to do.  I have a strong family history of heart attacks and strokes in multiple family members and I don't want to be the next one.  I've always been glad that I didn't take the shot when I've seen all the complaints about bone pain on this website.  I know some people take Claritin the day of the shot to help with it.  I'm wondering how many people on this website have had heart attacks or strokes within the first few years after having the Neulasta shot.  I know I've seen at least one or two with heart attacks.  I should use the medical term myocardial infarctions when I refer to heart attacks.  I'd like to keep track and take this information to my next appointment.  I may be able to have a reduced amount of chemo rather than having the shot.  My body definitely didn't handle the amount I got well, and this was only my first round.  I was told that with this being my second time going through chemo, my bone marrow might not handle it as well as the first time, even though I'm 7 years out from my first time going through chemo.  That does seem to be what's happening. 

My husband brought up the fact that when I had my chemo of Carboplatin and Taxol in 2010, I didn't have to have the shot.  My younger brother had died of a possible M.I. in the week prior to my being offered the shot, so that was my main reason for having turned it down.  The PA said that they don't like to change chemo drugs mid-stream.  She thought that since my last chemo hadn't worked, I should continue on the one I'm on.  That was interesting because my GYN/onc at a different hospital had told me that my last chemo had worked since I was so far out before I had a recurrence.  Anyway, that was one of the reasons I decided to try Gemzar rather than Taxol this time.  It does have a lot of side effects and i am losing my hair gradually with it.  I'm hoping I don't have to wear a wig this time.  I'm trying to use a natural bristle hair brush which rips out less hair than my other brush. 

Another thing i'm wondering about is how many people on here have taken Gemzar and what their results were, plus whether or not they were able to tolerate it.  I know Kaleena (Kathy) that you took it.  How many others have and how many of you had positive results with it?  I will say it seems to be working on some of my basal cell carcinomas (skin cancers) I have. 

I'm falling asleep here so I'd better get to bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

NoTimeForCancer

Pinky, sorry to hear about

Pinky, sorry to hear about not being able to get your treatment on schedule but I think you are right to your reasons for not wanting the shot.  Everything has a possible side effect and everyone has to be aware of them before they agree.  I did not have the Neulasta shot and it was not offered. (if I need chemo again I would have second thoughts on getting it based on everything I have heard and read)  I also did not have Gezmar. (I had the Taxol/Carboplatin combo)

Take care dear!

derMaus

Pinky, let me second how

Pinky, let me second how sorry I am to hear about your chemo delay. I had severe trepidation about taking the Neulasta shots (I had two), which was ultimately outweighed by the greater trauma of delaying treatment. I'm one of the fortunate ones for whom Neulasta had no side effects at all. I did take Claritin before and after, as advised, but it didn't seem to have any downside for me. If you don't want the shot - and I can certainly understand why - are they recommending other alternatives? For some reason I think a transfusion was recommended to me at one time, but that came from one of the chemo nurses and not the oncologist. Best wishes,  B

pinky104

Alternatives to Neulasta

I was told that I might have to have my chemo dose lowered to make sure my white blood cells don't tank so much.  The PA is discussing it with my oncologist/hematologist.  I'm starting to wonder if I should have the shot since I have just developed a UTI today.  Last time, when I refused the shot, I had a UTI almost constantly.  As soon as I got off the antibiotics, it started up again.  I had a workup with a urologist, but nothing conclusive was found, other than the fact that I already knew I had a cystocele.  I don't really want to be sick all summer and into the fall.  I bought Claritin today in case I decide to have the shot after all.  It's scary because my brother, father, father's two brothers (who were twins), maternal grandmother and maternal grandfather all had MI's.  My mother, father, and maternal grandmother all had strokes, too. I noticed in the ad for Neulasta on TV, another side effect could be a ruptured spleen, which could be fatal. 

I doubt that my blood work is going to improve much this week, as I don't feel significantly different in my energy level.  And of course, today's UTI isn't helping it any.  I could easily end up with a transfusion.  I thought I'd have one last week, but I didn't.  I know there's a shortage of blood in the summer, so maybe that's playing into their decision.  Fortunately, I have a fairly common blood type. 

I go back on Wed. for more labs and chemo if they decide I can have it.  

CheeseQueen57

Just a thought

When I was experiencing recurrent UTIs my urologist referred me to an infectious disease specialist. He says either the antibiotic isn't killing the original infection and it never really clears up or I was getting new infections and we had to find out what the situation was. Also with recurrent infections you run the risk of they becoming antibiotic resistant. Good luck sweetie. You're going through so much. 

derMaus

CheeseQueen57 said:

Just a thought

When I was experiencing recurrent UTIs my urologist referred me to an infectious disease specialist. He says either the antibiotic isn't killing the original infection and it never really clears up or I was getting new infections and we had to find out what the situation was. Also with recurrent infections you run the risk of they becoming antibiotic resistant. Good luck sweetie. You're going through so much. 

Just wondering on a separate

Just wondering on a separate (but slightly related) matter:  I got a UTI towards the end of chemo after which I started taking preventive cranberry supplements. I'll be starting radiation soon and know people get irritation/infection from that. Has cranberry helped anyone in that regard? Pinky's troubles reminded me to ask the question...

Editgrl

derMaus said:

Just wondering on a separate

Just wondering on a separate (but slightly related) matter:  I got a UTI towards the end of chemo after which I started taking preventive cranberry supplements. I'll be starting radiation soon and know people get irritation/infection from that. Has cranberry helped anyone in that regard? Pinky's troubles reminded me to ask the question...

D-mannose

D-mannose is the sugar in cranberries that helps keep the e. Coli bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder. 

I used it for several months after the kidney infection i got during brachytherapy and have used it a couple of times when I felt I might have a bladder infection coming on.  it worked for me.

Pinky, here in Germany, I have gotten a couple of granocyte shots to help boost white blood cells. It is a short acting drug, with minor side effects and is inexpensive compared to Neulasta. (About $100 euros here). I don't know if it is available in the states or if it is called something else, but you might ask your doctor about it.

NoTimeForCancer

pinky, some info based on

pinky, some info based on Chris' info on granocyte.  

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/cancer/a6818/granocyte-lenograstim/

As she said, might as well ask your doctor.  

pinky104

Thank you, everyone

Thank you, everyone for all your information.  I haven't been on here in a few days, so sorry about the late reply.  My blood work had supposedly returned to normal yesterday after a week's hiatus in when I was supposed to get the start of my chemo.  I did have my 2 drug chemo (Carboplatin and Gemzar) yesterday.  I didn't get to discuss the Neulasta shot with my PA.  There was a new scheduler on in my Cancer Center who had given me my appointment.  She had been vague about what I was having done yesterday, but she'd led me to believe I would be seeing the PA there.  When I went to the appointment, I found out I didn't have one for a visit for the PA, just my labs, a nurse review, and my chemo.  I had gotten a call from my PA earlier that morning (when I was in the shower, of course!) and she'd told me that the Macrobid she'd put me on wouldn't work on the type of infection I have.  Most of my UTI's have been E coli, but this one turned out to be Proteus.  I've had that type a few times before, and had a cystoscopy in 2010 to see if I had kidney stones, which can cause that type of infection, but I didn't have it.  She changed my med to Levaquin, which I've had a few times before for UTI's and other infections.  I had to run and pick it up in the next town befoe I got to my lab and chemo appointment, which I just got to in time.  I won't get to see the PA for a few more weeks now, but I'll print out the information you've provided me and see what she has to say about it.  I'll be interested to see if I get the same drop in my neutrophils with my 2nd round of chemo.  I know cranberry is good for UTI's, but it's the one food that has always made me gag.  I haven't actually tried the pills, but if they have any aftertaste, I'm sure I wouldn't want to take them.  Again, thanks everyone for all your information and the link which provides more information on the drug.

cindy0519

I was just hospitalized for 4

I was just hospitalized for 4 days because of a nuetropenic fever.  My ANC was .03!  I spent four days on two antibotics and essentially in quaratine in the hopsital.   We finally decided to use the Neupogen shot and Nuelasta will be used with each chemo cycle from here on out.  I was suprised that I had no bone pain from the shot or nothing any worse than I normally have with a chemo cycle.  There was a lot of debate about using or not using these drugs but having my ANC drop so dramatically low each cycle is not an option and for me personally, I'd rather not reduce the chemo dose unless absolutely a last option.  So onward with Neulasta! 

ConnieSW

Cindy

glad you came through ok

pinky104

cindy0519 said:

I was just hospitalized for 4

I was just hospitalized for 4 days because of a nuetropenic fever.  My ANC was .03!  I spent four days on two antibotics and essentially in quaratine in the hopsital.   We finally decided to use the Neupogen shot and Nuelasta will be used with each chemo cycle from here on out.  I was suprised that I had no bone pain from the shot or nothing any worse than I normally have with a chemo cycle.  There was a lot of debate about using or not using these drugs but having my ANC drop so dramatically low each cycle is not an option and for me personally, I'd rather not reduce the chemo dose unless absolutely a last option.  So onward with Neulasta! 

Good to know

Cindy,

Thanks for letting me know about your lack of bone pain.  I never did see the PA last time to discuss the Neulasta shot with her again. The new person doing the scheduling had led me to believe I would have an appointment with her this past week, but when I got there, I was only scheduled for labs, a nurse assessment, and chemo.  I'm attempting to fight off my UTI right now.  Hope I don't get it back again before I see her again on 6/28.  Although the bone pain is a consideration, my biggest worry is the possible MI's and strokes I could develop with my strong family history of those.

PACE

Cramberry Supplements

With all you are going through this seems like such a minor point but just wanted to let you know that in my experience (and I take them regularly) cranberry pills have absolutely no aftertaste. Wishing you all the best.