Hi, I'm wondering if anyone else has this issue. I finished chemo in May and rads in August, I still have low red/white blood cells and low platelets. I was scheduled to get my port out tomorrow, but my onc says to wait because of the low platelets (not good to do any surgery because won't clot properly with low platelets). She said that if they don't go up soon, they'll need to "explore why they continue to be low." She mentioned something about looking in the bone marrow. Ok, so my panic meter is going off! Also, looked at blood tests from 2006 and was surprised to see low white cells/platelets then for me. Apparently my immune system has always been a little suppressed. Wonder if that's one of the risk factors for getting bc in the first place. How do you elevate your immune system??? Anyone else with low platelets for an extended period?
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SherriG Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,861 |
Nov 2, 2009 05:12 pm
SherriG wrote:
Hi, Amanada. Congratulations on getting the chemo and rads behind you! I'm also a stage 3 ILC girl. I am the queen of wacky CBC's. Yes, I have low white counts and platelets. My red count and hemoglobin are always very good though. And, I have several other counts that are either lower than the norm or higher than the norm. So, in total, about half of my CBC is wacky. It used to drive me crazy, but not anymore. My onc, who is also a hematologists, says it is my new normal. He said that the chemo did a number on my marrow, killing off stem cells. Now get this, he said that is a good thing in this case! It shows that the chemo did it's job in getting to the marrow. WHATEVER!!! I'd still like to have normal counts, but I'm five years out and they are probably as good as they are going to get. For the red counts, be sure that you are getting plenty of protein and iron. As for the platelets, watch the supplements you may me taking. Fish oil, curcumin, vitamin E and many more are actually platelet inhibitors. I hope this helps. Take care. Diagnosed 11/05/04 Stage 3 ILC "Lump is a four letter word!" Sherri
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MandaLynn Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 14 |
Nov 4, 2009 12:33 am
MandaLynn wrote:
Hi Sherri, Well, it's good to see that someone else knows what I'm talking about. I was starting to get worried because I saw something about breast cancer spread to bone marrow and like other stage IIIers I figured well that's got to be me. I guess I'll find out more when I see my onc (she's a hematologist as well). I also read last night that one of the SEs of chemo is chronic bone marrow suppression (or something like that). I think I'm just worrying needlessly. It is, however, inconvenient because I want my port (and ovaries out) and my onc doesn't want me doing anything until my platelets go higher (for clotting). Not sure how risky it is. Love following your posts, by the way. I watch these boards a lot but don't post much. I really feel grateful that there are Stage 3 ILCers here. It can be so frustrating to be in this minority. Thanks for the info. Amanda
Diagnosis: 10/20/2008, ILC, 3cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 2, 4/17 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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florencedon… Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 242 |
Nov 4, 2009 08:44 pm
florencedonna wrote:
Hi Amanda, I am worried about this too. A week ago I would have written freaked out by it, but I've calmed down a bit. All my counts were lowish after chemo in April 2006. Over time my Hgb and WBC got better but my platelet count continues to slowly drop. I'm down to 85 (85,000). I thought it was a drug reaction to prozac but I was wrong. I can't see it as the new normal because it is still dropping. My platelets are actually lower after chemo than they were during chemo!!!@!! I am getting myself mentally ready for the recommendation of a bone marrow biopsy. I am suppressing the worry it is bone marrow mets or chronic bone marrow problems from chemo. I joke, you know you've had cancer when idiopathic thrombocytopenia (an autoimmune disorder where your body destroys your own platelets) would be the least worrisome reason for your low platelet count. Donna |
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MandaLynn Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 14 |
Nov 6, 2009 12:55 am
MandaLynn wrote:
Donna, It's funny (well not really), but this is just one more thing that is slowly sinking in -- exactly what the side effects from treatment can be. I just read about the idiopathic thrombocytopenia myself. I find myself saying "Oh jeez not something else" pretty much every week. Seems like they can't tell you all the bad news at once, but in little shocks over the course of months. I think my platelets are around 100. I'd like to get the biopsy (ouch) but am thinking that right now I don't want anymore bad news. Seems like you've been dealing with this for a while - sorry about that. When you finally get ready to look further into the causes of the low platelets or find out any new information, would you please get back to me? I'm frustrated because I want to be able to move ahead with reconstruction etc... Oh jeez, hope this doesn't eliminate me from DIEP surgery next year. Amanda Amanda
Diagnosis: 10/20/2008, ILC, 3cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 2, 4/17 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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TammyLou Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 572 |
Nov 10, 2009 07:05 am
TammyLou wrote:
I am 4 years and 2 months out from my last hard chemo. My WBC is still in the ditches. (sigh) The crazy hand-washing lady... tl |
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MandaLynn Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 14 |
Nov 12, 2009 02:11 am
MandaLynn wrote:
Tammy, I was my hands like crazy too. I'm more worried that the low platelets are a sign of cancer in the bone marrow. But, I just read something interesting that both the tamoxifen and the bisphosphonate I am on can cause mild thrombocytopenia (low platelets). I hope that's the issue for me. Doctor wants to do a bone marrow aspiration to find out (i.e. eliminate the idea of cancer in the marrow). Not sure I want to go there. Maybe I'd rather not know. Amanda Amanda
Diagnosis: 10/20/2008, ILC, 3cm, Stage IIIa, Grade 2, 4/17 nodes, ER+/PR+, HER2- |
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