anemia and kidney problems

ggggsister
ggggsister Member Posts: 38
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
My sister, who finished 6 rounds of chemo on September 5, keeps showing signs of bad anemia (for which she is taking iron) and kidney problems, according to blood tests. Do any of you know of anything she can do for either issue? By the way, she had her port removed at the end of October and her CA125 numbers have fallen from 75 to 19! Yippee! Also, when you say you are in remission, is that something the Doc tells you? How do they determine that? And is being in remission the same thing as No Evidence of Disease?

Thank you!

Gail

Comments

  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #2
    NED
    My cancer center calls remission "NED" or No Evidence of Disease by three criteria. A physical that doesn't feel anything, a CT scan that doesn't show anything, and a CA-125 under 21. Is your sister taking a vitamin/mineral supplement with the iron? Our ability to make new blood cells differs for each one. I think she should ask her doctor about the slow recovery of RBC. There are booster drugs that can be given.
    Has she had them? Saundra
  • LPack
    LPack Member Posts: 645
    #3
    Iron
    Gail,

    I too experienced low counts. I take a slow release iron once a day that is over the counter, but after my surgery and for the first month of chemo I took prescription iron which was very potent and I ended up taking every other day. (I also ate a big plate of liver and onions one night out for dinner - yum, yum, yum!

    I have found that drinking lots and lots of water helps my kidneys stay flushed and helps with everything else. AND when I do drink "other fluids" it never works as well as water.

    I have yet to be told I am in remission, but have had 7 rounds of chemo and am now on 6 cycles of Hexalen. I believe that I am in remission. :) I know my CA125 has been below 35 ever since my 3rd chemo treatment (different labs use different numbers). And I have had several scans with no evidence.

    My port she will not take out, as my doctor says my cancer is a "bad" cancer (which one is good?).

    It all sounds good for your sister. I imagine her/your family is Praising the Lord!

    In His Grip,
    Libby
  • Dreamdove
    Dreamdove Member Posts: 175 Member
    #4
    saundra said:

    NED
    My cancer center calls remission "NED" or No Evidence of Disease by three criteria. A physical that doesn't feel anything, a CT scan that doesn't show anything, and a CA-125 under 21. Is your sister taking a vitamin/mineral supplement with the iron? Our ability to make new blood cells differs for each one. I think she should ask her doctor about the slow recovery of RBC. There are booster drugs that can be given.
    Has she had them? Saundra

    nobody told me I was in remission
    Nobody told me I was in remission or NED! I can only assume. It's been nearly 18 months since my last chemo treatment. I have a very fine doctor and the nursing staff is excellent. But the truth is, I made that judgement myself. My CA-125 is great, ct scans show nothing, etc. But I guess they are wary there and don't try to make too much of it because they've seen it come back so much with other patients.
  • ggggsister
    ggggsister Member Posts: 38
    #5
    saundra said:

    NED
    My cancer center calls remission "NED" or No Evidence of Disease by three criteria. A physical that doesn't feel anything, a CT scan that doesn't show anything, and a CA-125 under 21. Is your sister taking a vitamin/mineral supplement with the iron? Our ability to make new blood cells differs for each one. I think she should ask her doctor about the slow recovery of RBC. There are booster drugs that can be given.
    Has she had them? Saundra

    anemia
    Thanks, Saundra for your input. I don't really know what my sister's doc has suggested for the anemia, other than iron. I don't even know if it's a prescription strength iron or just over the counter. I've emailed her with everyone's input. She's so tired! I hope something starts working for her!

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