Low Plateletts

lfondots63
lfondots63 Member Posts: 818 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi Everyone,

I don't post too many questions here so let me give you a background. I'm stage 3 one node semi-colon dx Dec 19th (one day before my birthday). I'm on folfox chemo and found out my plateletts are low. My onc said that the only way to raise them is to take a week off chemo or get an infussion. Does anyone have a natural way to raise your platelettes. Maybe a supplement or something else I can eat? Thanks and HUGS to everyone on this board for all the help they have given me.

Lisa

Comments

  • JoyceCanada
    JoyceCanada Member Posts: 134
    #2
    Hi Lisa: We share the same birthday!!! I'm also on Folfox stage 3 x 2 node semi-colon. After round 2 of Folfox I had low platelets. Doc told me that there was nothing I could take as a supplement which would help....time was the only thing. I was told that if my count didn't return to acceptable levels they could give me an infussion. I ran into a bit of a problem with Folfox (spiked a high temp) and I have just re-started treatment they take it slooooow I have a 6 hour infusion. But yippee it seems to be working!!
    Take the week off and enjoy! Rest, relax!!
  • debralla
    debralla Member Posts: 203 Member
    #3
    JoyceCanada said:

    Hi Lisa: We share the same birthday!!! I'm also on Folfox stage 3 x 2 node semi-colon. After round 2 of Folfox I had low platelets. Doc told me that there was nothing I could take as a supplement which would help....time was the only thing. I was told that if my count didn't return to acceptable levels they could give me an infussion. I ran into a bit of a problem with Folfox (spiked a high temp) and I have just re-started treatment they take it slooooow I have a 6 hour infusion. But yippee it seems to be working!!
    Take the week off and enjoy! Rest, relax!!

    Lisa .
    I also have had to skip a few treatments because of low platelets . Not much you can do except for give them time to come back up on there own . which with a week off you will find that they do .The chemo safe zone is 100 and mine were at 101 . So I went on and received treatment #13 .
    I too hated that I had to skip treatment . But have to say that I enjoyed the break !!!!!
    Take Care and God Bless.
    Debra
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #4
    Hi Lisa,
    I had the "opposite" (other) problem on folfox -- low white blood count. Eventually I ended up taking neupogen to boost the white cells. But, before that decision, I had several one week delays, waiting for that count to rise. Even one 2-week delay. It was frustrating because (a) I wanted to finish! (b) I was worie about whether a delay might decrease the efficacy. On the later point, my oncologist assured me that a delay of up to 3 weeks (if I remember correctly) didn't make any difference, in terms of efficacy -- at least according to one study he knew of. That was quite reassuring to me, and I hope might be to you, too. I'm sending platelett-multiplying wishes your way....
    Tara
  • pink05
    pink05 Member Posts: 550
    #5
    Hi,

    I'm not sure if there is anything out there that will help raise platelets. I'm glad you posted the question, though cause I'd like to also know if anyone has any advice on that topic. My dad's platelets seem to be getting lower and I'm wondering what he can do to get them up, besides letting time do the trick. Try not to get too discouraged, though. The nurses at the treatment center my dad goes to say that low counts are the body's way of telling you it needs a break. Maybe you just need a small break from the chemo. I'm sure your platelets will come back up to normal levels soon.

    God bless,

    -Lee-
  • scouty
    scouty Member Posts: 1,965 Member
    #6
    Hi Lisa,

    Mangosteen juice is great for blood counts. It is expensive but you don't have to drink much (2 oz twice a day for a week and then cut back to 1 oz twice a day. Jerseysue drinks it also so hopefully she chime in here shortly.

    Maitake D mushroom, astragulus, and garlic are all good also. JUST don't take garlic before surgery.

    Let me know if you need more.

    Lisa P.
  • pepperdog
    pepperdog Member Posts: 96
    #7
    My husband is undergoing chemo too. Early on I paid attention to posts from others about their diet. At least one survivor made a habit of eating liver at least once a week. I've been trying to do the same for my husband to assure his counts stay up....I'm sure others will have many suggestions to help.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #8
    WOW! I wish I would have asked that question...mine is the same...
    Hugs, Lisa....sending good vibes your way!
    Kathi
  • jerseysue
    jerseysue Member Posts: 624 Member
    #9
    scouty said:

    Hi Lisa,

    Mangosteen juice is great for blood counts. It is expensive but you don't have to drink much (2 oz twice a day for a week and then cut back to 1 oz twice a day. Jerseysue drinks it also so hopefully she chime in here shortly.

    Maitake D mushroom, astragulus, and garlic are all good also. JUST don't take garlic before surgery.

    Let me know if you need more.

    Lisa P.

    Yes I still drink it but I don't know what it's good for. I just heard it was good for you!
  • mwomack
    mwomack Member Posts: 78
    #10
    My husband's ran low basically the whole time he was on chemo. They were 162 before chemo started so they didn't have far to go to be out of the normal range.

    When they got down to 52, the onc. postponed treatment a week and put him on 60 mg of steroids a day for the remainder of his chemo. His stayed in the 50's for probably 3/4 of the chemo. His onc. kept saying it was not a big deal that they would do surgery at 50.
    MA

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