Anemia and Chemo...

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Shayenne
Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I was just curious, I been anemic most of my life, and this past week, when I found out about the dx, my level of anemia was in the 7's, which they like to keep at at least 8, (borderline) even though the best is 12..well, they gave me a blood transfusion, since I was losing blood somewhere but they couldn't exactly pinpoint where yet..they suspect my menstrual cycle..I do bleed abit heavy at first..and it will last over a week at times, my menstrual cycle has always been irregular as well.. maybe every 3 weeks I get it!

With the blood transfusion, they gave me 2 units of blood, and my anemia levels were improved to the 9's, which they were happy about..but now, I have my period again! I'm so afraid it's going to dump out everything that was just put in me now! should I be worried? and with chemo, does it work to help the blood be restored as well as shrink the tumors?

Has anyone got anemia and dealing with this, and does this make my chances at even living normally slimmer? I am so upset with this.

~Donna

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  • tiny one
    tiny one Member Posts: 465 Member
    #2
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    anemia
    I had a resection in 07, a temporary ileostomy, reversal 10 months later, chemo and radiation, 6 month course of chemo for colon cancer. My periods stopped completely. It's been a year and a half at least since my last one. The Dr's say I shouldn't ever have a period again. I am 50 year's old. The treatment has put me into chemical induced menopause. They watch you all through treatment for anemia and can treat you for this. Good luck and God Bless. I hope your treatment is easy on you.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #3
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    tiny one said:

    anemia
    I had a resection in 07, a temporary ileostomy, reversal 10 months later, chemo and radiation, 6 month course of chemo for colon cancer. My periods stopped completely. It's been a year and a half at least since my last one. The Dr's say I shouldn't ever have a period again. I am 50 year's old. The treatment has put me into chemical induced menopause. They watch you all through treatment for anemia and can treat you for this. Good luck and God Bless. I hope your treatment is easy on you.

    anemia
    I had been anemic for years and attributed it to my periods, since it def was worse that time of month, but turns out it was from bleeding in my colon from the colon cancer! Once they removed the tumor, the problem went away! Of course, now I am in menopause since they had to go back in 2 years later and remove all of my female stuff; let me tell you I don't miss my period one bit! My daughter's and sisters complain about theirs and I just gloat!
    mary
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
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    This is one of the levels they watch...
    I, too, have been borderline all of my life. Just like with the white cell count and level, your blood will be tested for red cell level. I only once needed a shot to help...it was an immediate lift.

    I had surgically induced menopause. It was a great help to not lose a monthly suppy of blood that way.

    Hugs, Kathi
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #5
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    KathiM said:

    This is one of the levels they watch...
    I, too, have been borderline all of my life. Just like with the white cell count and level, your blood will be tested for red cell level. I only once needed a shot to help...it was an immediate lift.

    I had surgically induced menopause. It was a great help to not lose a monthly suppy of blood that way.

    Hugs, Kathi

    Procrit...
    Just remembered...Neupogin for the white, Procrit for the red...I had both at different times. With the breast cancer, I had Neulasta for the white.

    Hugs, Kathi
  • krystiesq
    krystiesq Member Posts: 240 Member
    #6
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    anemia
    My mom has been anemic for a long time as well. She said when she was pregnant with me she was extremely low and the doc thought she may need hospitalized. Well, now with chemo she gets anemic and floats on the low level quite often. She takes a daily iron supplement called SlowFe. It is a slow release and doesn't upset her stomach. It also as an added bonus, helps with diarrhea caused by chemo. She isn't really a meat eater, only occasionally. I am the same way, even sometimes prevented from giving blood due to anemia. Since chemo my mom hasn't had to get procrit normally, only a few times for minor hospitalizations, but she does get neulasta shots about 48 hours after pump is unhooked to keep her whities normal.
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #7
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    krystiesq said:

    anemia
    My mom has been anemic for a long time as well. She said when she was pregnant with me she was extremely low and the doc thought she may need hospitalized. Well, now with chemo she gets anemic and floats on the low level quite often. She takes a daily iron supplement called SlowFe. It is a slow release and doesn't upset her stomach. It also as an added bonus, helps with diarrhea caused by chemo. She isn't really a meat eater, only occasionally. I am the same way, even sometimes prevented from giving blood due to anemia. Since chemo my mom hasn't had to get procrit normally, only a few times for minor hospitalizations, but she does get neulasta shots about 48 hours after pump is unhooked to keep her whities normal.

    Me either...
    I rarely eat red meat as well, I do eat alot of salad, chicken, and pasta though, and don't mind not having my friend anymore anytime soon, my child bearing days have been over for a long time, and it was just so scary thinking I just had 2 units of blood of me, and thought there it all goes, pouring out of me! but it is lessening as the days go by.

    Thanks for all the replies all, It's so hard to be in the "unknown" and not knowing what to expect :(

    Hugs!
    ~Donna
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    #8
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    Shayenne said:

    Me either...
    I rarely eat red meat as well, I do eat alot of salad, chicken, and pasta though, and don't mind not having my friend anymore anytime soon, my child bearing days have been over for a long time, and it was just so scary thinking I just had 2 units of blood of me, and thought there it all goes, pouring out of me! but it is lessening as the days go by.

    Thanks for all the replies all, It's so hard to be in the "unknown" and not knowing what to expect :(

    Hugs!
    ~Donna

    help
    HI Donna,

    You may need a boost of Procrit for your red blood cell count- talk to your Dr. about it. Also, taking more greens (and/or "green powder" from your local health food store- I find Vitamineral Green to be very good) could help give you more iron and what you need to counter that low blood count. Greens are not considered supplements- they're just food, so they shouldn't ever be considered a "no-no" like some supplements during chemo are by many oncologists.

    So far as periods, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you soon have your last period. I was diagnosed and started chemo at age 41 and went into a chemically induced menopause after just my first round of chemo (I was told the oxalplatin does it- but others can too). It's been a year and a half since I've had a period so I know I'm in menopause. The hot flashes told me that too- LOL! Those were severe & I did find something that helped me with them- extra strength Estroven, which I just buy at Wal-Mart. None of the other things helped, but this did. If you have heavy periods now, though, that could possibly be the cause or contributing cause to your anemia. Get extra iron and B vitamins (naturally through food or green powders instead of only vitamin supplements- the body absorbs natural food sources much better than it does vitamin supplements.)
    Best wishes- I know you're the "newby" to all this- but I've enjoyed seeing your posts so far. You'll do fine!

    Take care and God bless,
    Lisa
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    #9
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    lisa42 said:

    help
    HI Donna,

    You may need a boost of Procrit for your red blood cell count- talk to your Dr. about it. Also, taking more greens (and/or "green powder" from your local health food store- I find Vitamineral Green to be very good) could help give you more iron and what you need to counter that low blood count. Greens are not considered supplements- they're just food, so they shouldn't ever be considered a "no-no" like some supplements during chemo are by many oncologists.

    So far as periods, I wouldn't be at all surprised if you soon have your last period. I was diagnosed and started chemo at age 41 and went into a chemically induced menopause after just my first round of chemo (I was told the oxalplatin does it- but others can too). It's been a year and a half since I've had a period so I know I'm in menopause. The hot flashes told me that too- LOL! Those were severe & I did find something that helped me with them- extra strength Estroven, which I just buy at Wal-Mart. None of the other things helped, but this did. If you have heavy periods now, though, that could possibly be the cause or contributing cause to your anemia. Get extra iron and B vitamins (naturally through food or green powders instead of only vitamin supplements- the body absorbs natural food sources much better than it does vitamin supplements.)
    Best wishes- I know you're the "newby" to all this- but I've enjoyed seeing your posts so far. You'll do fine!

    Take care and God bless,
    Lisa

    anemia and greens
    Hi Donna,
    **** was amenic too. Looking back, he was amemic in October 08 and then blood tests Jan 12, 09 the day of dx. We read up on it and started him on heavy leafy greens. I found that dandelion greens are the best, even better than the spinach. So, everyday he would eat 1 or 2 salads with spinach, dandelion greens, walnuts, almonds, olives (not the very best for him but not bad), apples chunks and avocado (again not the very best but not bad). I also gave this to our daughter and she would eat it if I added feta cheese for her. Well, after 2 weeks of this, **** is not showing any signs of anemia. We will continue to look for all the natural ways to boost his immune system and make him strong for chemo.
    Hope this helps.
    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #10
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    Kathleen808 said:

    anemia and greens
    Hi Donna,
    **** was amenic too. Looking back, he was amemic in October 08 and then blood tests Jan 12, 09 the day of dx. We read up on it and started him on heavy leafy greens. I found that dandelion greens are the best, even better than the spinach. So, everyday he would eat 1 or 2 salads with spinach, dandelion greens, walnuts, almonds, olives (not the very best for him but not bad), apples chunks and avocado (again not the very best but not bad). I also gave this to our daughter and she would eat it if I added feta cheese for her. Well, after 2 weeks of this, **** is not showing any signs of anemia. We will continue to look for all the natural ways to boost his immune system and make him strong for chemo.
    Hope this helps.
    Aloha,
    Kathleen

    Thanks!
    Thanks for the comments lisa and Kathleen, I love leafy greens, but have never heard of dandelion greens, I doubt this little town I even live in would have them, but I will look for them! I love feta cheesa with spinach, a little olive oyl and salt and pepper, which I would try and eat every day. I'm so scared of when my immune system goes down, I really would love to stock up on the stuff that will help it quickly.

    Glad that **** isn't showing signs of anemia and hope he gets strong quickly! they have me on iron pills twice a day as well, which I don't like as much, since it constipates abit, but thank goodness for stool softeners as well...lol

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