Moderate Neutropenia so no chemo

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Patrusha
Patrusha Member Posts: 487
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Well I was supposed to have my second round of chemo today, but guess what? My Neutrophils came in at (0.9) 900, which means I am moderately susceptible to getting any bacterial or fungal illness floating around out there. So no chemo this week.

The oncologists said that this could be an indication that I am deficient in the DPD Enzyme. Oh, great. That's that enzyme that so few people lack that they are still developing a test for it in Alabama. People who don't have this enzyme at all become very sick at their first chemo infusion, and some even die, because they can't process the chemo in the liver. It's like a super shock of chemo.

Chances of having this drug-induced neutropenia? Oh, one in a million. Just my luck. Another genetic trick pulled by my ancestors.

Plan is I go back next Friday and redo the blood counts. If they are sufficient I'll likely receive a reduced chemo regimen, at least of the 5-FU, which is the likely culprit. My white blood cells were 2.7 (2700), which is also considered on the low side.

I feel fine, a little tired, but otherwise healthy. I have to check my temp twice a day to make sure I don't have a fever, wash my hands like crazy and avoid sick people. The esophogus infection I had last week was a tell-tale sign, apparently.

Anybody else have to deal with neutropenia right out of the gate?

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  • JADot
    JADot Member Posts: 709 Member
    #2
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    Hmmm...can't say I had this after round 1, but I did have it later in the game. And then I cured it myself by just eating more protein. My blood signs were taking a nose dive on a largely vegetarian diet. I suddenly remembered protein, the building block to just about everything in our bodies (other than water). I upped consumption of high quality protein, eggs and organic chicken, and magically my blood signed went up and stayed there. Donno if this can help you, but it certainly did magic for me. It got me off nupogen!

    Cheers,
    Ying
  • Patrusha
    Patrusha Member Posts: 487
    #3
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    JADot said:

    Hmmm...can't say I had this after round 1, but I did have it later in the game. And then I cured it myself by just eating more protein. My blood signs were taking a nose dive on a largely vegetarian diet. I suddenly remembered protein, the building block to just about everything in our bodies (other than water). I upped consumption of high quality protein, eggs and organic chicken, and magically my blood signed went up and stayed there. Donno if this can help you, but it certainly did magic for me. It got me off nupogen!

    Cheers,
    Ying

    I eat eggs everyday already.... and I haven't sworn off meat completely. But I'll give it a shot. They didn't even mention Nupogen or Nuelasta yet, which I thought odd. I'll have to ask onc about this...
  • Betsydoglover
    Betsydoglover Member Posts: 1,248 Member
    #4
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    Patrusha -

    I am sorry this happened to you. My oncologist told me about the DPD enzyme issue - it relates to 5FU / Xeloda (which metabolizes into 5FU) - she told me that while extremely rare, it occurred primarily in people of English decent. She told me that this couldn't be tested for - that was over a year ago - but that the condition would be pretty bad if it occurred. Of course it did not occur with me, but if that is your issue, reducing the 5FU while going on with the other drugs may well work. Scary to contemplate, I know, but since you are Stage II, you have some room to maneuver.

    Good luck,
    Betsy
  • betina61
    betina61 Member Posts: 642 Member
    #5
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    Sorry Patrusha that you could not get your chemo as scheduled, because I am sure that you want the treatment to be finished a.s.a.p., at least that is how I feel, my best wishes that you could get it next friday. Hugs, Betina
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #6
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    Patrusha,
    Sorry to hear about your counts. Ask about Neulasta. The Neupogen only lasts for a few days. On the other hand, my onc says if you have the Neulasta you can't have chemo for two weeks. I had it once and it did raise my neutrophil count quite a bit ( I took a vacation so had an extra week between chemos and that likely helped as well).
    ****

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