Re: New Twist - Thrombocytopenia (Low Platelets)

[Guest guest]

Wow that is low. My Mom had to skip a treatment last week

because her dr felt that her platelets were too low and they were

86000. I'm sure taking a break from the Xeloda and radiation will

help. It helped her just being off chemo 1 week.

Sorry you feel so lousy but like you said at least you know why and

can do something about it.

Hope you feel better soon.

Kat

-- In colon_cancer_support , " altman23 "

<altman23@y...> wrote:

> Hi All,

>

> Well, I finally got an answer as to why I have been feeling so

darned

> TIRED these last few days. When I went in today for daily

radiation

> (4th tx was this afternoon at 3pm), they had me do a blood draw.

The

> radiation onc got the results back within a couple hours and called

> me at home. She says platelets have dropped to " under 10,000 " , and

> that I am at VERY HIGH RISK for internal bleeding (!!!!!).

>

> I am not surprised, as these last few days I have felt just

> terrible. I can barely get out of my living room chair without

> wife's help. My next radiation tx (originally scheduled for

Friday)

> has now been postponed. The rad onc said don't bother coming in

> tomorrow, and just come in on Monday for another blood draw -

unless

> things get worse over the weekend. In that case, I will need to

come

> in " right away " for a blood transfusion!!! I then asked her " when

do

> you think all of this will be straightened out, a few days or

> so? " She says " I doubt it, but I really have no idea! If you

> start having difficulties, you need to go to the emergency room

> immediately! "

>

> Now, this is not the most encouraging of news, but I'm at least

glad

> we caught it early. Just goes to show you again the necessity of

> FREQUENT TESTING during any and all treatment sessions. Rad onc

> thinks my problem has been caused mostly by the radiation, but the

> Xeloda therapy has probably contributed as well. I would not be

> surprised!

>

> So that's where I stand as of tonight. Glad to at least have SOME

> idea as to why I have felt so bad these last few days...when I

SHOULD

> have been feeling better!

>

> I am going to call the rad onc's office again tomorrow morning to

try

> and get a bit more information.

>

>

> Best Wishes to All,

>

>

[Guest guest]

, I'm sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. Can they transfuse

you or give you some procrit so that you feel better? (not sure if

procrit helps with platelet count or not though...)

Best,

Jodi

> Hi All,

>

> Well, I finally got an answer as to why I have been feeling so darned

> TIRED these last few days. When I went in today for daily radiation

> (4th tx was this afternoon at 3pm), they had me do a blood draw. The

> radiation onc got the results back within a couple hours and called

> me at home. She says platelets have dropped to " under 10,000 " , and

> that I am at VERY HIGH RISK for internal bleeding (!!!!!).

>

> I am not surprised, as these last few days I have felt just

> terrible. I can barely get out of my living room chair without

> wife's help. My next radiation tx (originally scheduled for Friday)

> has now been postponed. The rad onc said don't bother coming in

> tomorrow, and just come in on Monday for another blood draw - unless

> things get worse over the weekend. In that case, I will need to come

> in " right away " for a blood transfusion!!! I then asked her " when do

> you think all of this will be straightened out, a few days or

> so? " She says " I doubt it, but I really have no idea! If you

> start having difficulties, you need to go to the emergency room

> immediately! "

>

> Now, this is not the most encouraging of news, but I'm at least glad

> we caught it early. Just goes to show you again the necessity of

> FREQUENT TESTING during any and all treatment sessions. Rad onc

> thinks my problem has been caused mostly by the radiation, but the

> Xeloda therapy has probably contributed as well. I would not be

> surprised!

>

> So that's where I stand as of tonight. Glad to at least have SOME

> idea as to why I have felt so bad these last few days...when I SHOULD

> have been feeling better!

>

> I am going to call the rad onc's office again tomorrow morning to try

> and get a bit more information.

>

>

> Best Wishes to All,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Sorry that you feel so lousy , but at least, thank God, now you

know why and there are things they can do to remedy. Best wishes

that all goes as planned and real soon.

Hugs

Monika

> Hi All,

>

> Well, I finally got an answer as to why I have been feeling so

darned

> TIRED these last few days. When I went in today for daily

radiation

> (4th tx was this afternoon at 3pm), they had me do a blood draw.

The

> radiation onc got the results back within a couple hours and called

> me at home. She says platelets have dropped to " under 10,000 " , and

> that I am at VERY HIGH RISK for internal bleeding (!!!!!).

>

> I am not surprised, as these last few days I have felt just

> terrible. I can barely get out of my living room chair without

> wife's help. My next radiation tx (originally scheduled for

Friday)

> has now been postponed. The rad onc said don't bother coming in

> tomorrow, and just come in on Monday for another blood draw -

unless

> things get worse over the weekend. In that case, I will need to

come

> in " right away " for a blood transfusion!!! I then asked her " when

do

> you think all of this will be straightened out, a few days or

> so? " She says " I doubt it, but I really have no idea! If you

> start having difficulties, you need to go to the emergency room

> immediately! "

>

> Now, this is not the most encouraging of news, but I'm at least

glad

> we caught it early. Just goes to show you again the necessity of

> FREQUENT TESTING during any and all treatment sessions. Rad onc

> thinks my problem has been caused mostly by the radiation, but the

> Xeloda therapy has probably contributed as well. I would not be

> surprised!

>

> So that's where I stand as of tonight. Glad to at least have SOME

> idea as to why I have felt so bad these last few days...when I

SHOULD

> have been feeling better!

>

> I am going to call the rad onc's office again tomorrow morning to

try

> and get a bit more information.

>

>

> Best Wishes to All,

>

>

[Guest guest]

That stinks -take the weekend and try to get lots of rest. Maybe

it will clear up by next week.

I too am doing the radiation now-stereotactic radio surgery at Staten

Island. Very tired, some new soreness in the abdomen, but dealing

with it nontheless. Trying to remember that there is a difference

between pain and discomfort. (albeit sometimes blurry)

I travel back to nyc on Monday morning for treatment on Monday and

Tuesday-will keep everybody posted on progress/outcome.

All the best with postive energy headed your way.

Peace-Mark

> > Hi All,

> >

> > Well, I finally got an answer as to why I have been feeling so

> darned

> > TIRED these last few days. When I went in today for daily

> radiation

> > (4th tx was this afternoon at 3pm), they had me do a blood draw.

> The

> > radiation onc got the results back within a couple hours and

called

> > me at home. She says platelets have dropped to " under 10,000 " ,

and

> > that I am at VERY HIGH RISK for internal bleeding (!!!!!).

> >

> > I am not surprised, as these last few days I have felt just

> > terrible. I can barely get out of my living room chair without

> > wife's help. My next radiation tx (originally scheduled for

> Friday)

> > has now been postponed. The rad onc said don't bother coming in

> > tomorrow, and just come in on Monday for another blood draw -

> unless

> > things get worse over the weekend. In that case, I will need to

> come

> > in " right away " for a blood transfusion!!! I then asked

her " when

> do

> > you think all of this will be straightened out, a few days or

> > so? " She says " I doubt it, but I really have no idea! If you

> > start having difficulties, you need to go to the emergency room

> > immediately! "

> >

> > Now, this is not the most encouraging of news, but I'm at least

> glad

> > we caught it early. Just goes to show you again the necessity of

> > FREQUENT TESTING during any and all treatment sessions. Rad onc

> > thinks my problem has been caused mostly by the radiation, but

the

> > Xeloda therapy has probably contributed as well. I would not be

> > surprised!

> >

> > So that's where I stand as of tonight. Glad to at least have

SOME

> > idea as to why I have felt so bad these last few days...when I

> SHOULD

> > have been feeling better!

> >

> > I am going to call the rad onc's office again tomorrow morning to

> try

> > and get a bit more information.

> >

> >

> > Best Wishes to All,

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi -

I am so sorry to hear of the latest problems. Hopefully they will get

resolved quickly. You are due for a break!

It was my impression that marked thrombocytopenia is uncommon with

Xeloda. Are they really sure it is a result of suppression of the

bone marrow as a result of Xeloda, or did platlets get used up from

a bleeding episode somewhere? I'm not a rad oncologist but it just

seems weird that radiation of such a small area and such a few

fractions would cause this? Does your med onc believe this is the

cause also? Occasionally blood can clot in some small vessels,

using up the platlets, putting individuals at risk by using up so

many platlets that there can be some bleeding somewhere else. I

think they can test for this by evaluating the level of D dimer,

(breakdown products from clots). Occasionally there are other causes

for platlet counts to fall. A common cause in dogs an autoimmune

disease can sometimes destroy them but I have no idea how common it

is in people. Hopefully another cause for low platlet count - an

erroneous result that can happen if the blood clots a bit in the tube

before it is tested is the case and that the count is higher than

they think.

I was told normal platlet counts are 150,000-200,000, but there is

no risk of spontaneous bleeding until the counts fall below 20,000.

My oncologist told me that long term oxaliplatin can supress the bone

marrow enough to require treatment delay. Mine fell to 86,000 a

month ago and I was worried that it was going to be a continuing

problem sliding more and more. My oncologist commented that there is

a drug to treat- Neulasta as someone mentioned is InterLeukin 11. It

apparently can cause edema, but is recommended if counts get very

low. Apparently because of risks of allergic reactions the

recommendation I saw a from a couple years ago in my Medline search

was transfusion if platlet counts are less than 2000. Sorry I don't

have references on hand.

I am so hoping that things go better for you very soon.

Kris

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/8/2004 9:27:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,

altman23@... writes:

I am going to call the rad onc's office again tomorrow morning to try and get

a bit more information.

Best Wishes to All,

Hey ...am behind in responding and was hoping to see an update since

this post....I'm sorry to hear about the thrombocytopenia - the combo of

radiation and the Xeloda too strong, I guess? I know when I had radiation, I

had to

stop the continuous infusion 5FU the last 2 weeks cuz the potentiation of it

with radiation was too much for me. I was tired to the bone, my insides felt

burned from the intestine clear down to my rectum - it was awful.

Anyway....hope you post soon and let us know how things are going...

With many prayers,

Terry in ga

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am sorry you seem to keep taking a beating. This disease stinks!

I hope they can correct the problem and that you will soon be feeling better.

As always we will be praying for you at our services today.

God bless you always,

Narice

In a message dated 1/10/2004 1:01:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Zoyavitch@... writes:

> Subj: Re: New Twist - Thrombocytopenia (Low

> Platelets)

> Date: 1/10/2004 1:01:14 PM Eastern Standard Time

> From: Zoyavitch@...

> Reply-to: colon_cancer_support

> To: colon_cancer_support

> Sent from the Internet

>

>

>

> In a message dated 1/8/2004 9:27:31 PM Eastern Standard Time,

> altman23@... writes:

> I am going to call the rad onc's office again tomorrow morning to try and

> get

> a bit more information.

>

>

> Best Wishes to All,

>

>

> Hey ...am behind in responding and was hoping to see an update since

> this post....I'm sorry to hear about the thrombocytopenia - the combo of

> radiation and the Xeloda too strong, I guess? I know when I had radiation,

> I had to

> stop the continuous infusion 5FU the last 2 weeks cuz the potentiation of it

>

> with radiation was too much for me. I was tired to the bone, my insides

> felt

> burned from the intestine clear down to my rectum - it was awful.

>

> Anyway....hope you post soon and let us know how things are going...

>

> With many prayers,

> Terry in ga

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I am really sorry to hear about your new twist. I hope things will

be resolved by itself without any complications. My brother's

platelet count was also lower than normal the last time he went for

treatment (but not to severe point yet) and the nurse told him there

was nothing he could do . On Monday, it will be his 3rd cycle of

Oxal/Leu/5FU + PTK787/ZK. They will also check his CEA (first time

since the treatment started) and also do some kind of blood test

every 2 hrs after he takes the pill, to measure some kind of PTK

effects in his blood stream. I will update everyone how everything

goes.

Best wishes to you and your family,

Loc

> Hi All,

>

> Well, I finally got an answer as to why I have been feeling so

darned

> TIRED these last few days. When I went in today for daily

radiation

> (4th tx was this afternoon at 3pm), they had me do a blood draw.

The

> radiation onc got the results back within a couple hours and

called

> me at home. She says platelets have dropped to " under 10,000 " ,

and

> that I am at VERY HIGH RISK for internal bleeding (!!!!!).

>

> I am not surprised, as these last few days I have felt just

> terrible. I can barely get out of my living room chair without

> wife's help. My next radiation tx (originally scheduled for

Friday)

> has now been postponed. The rad onc said don't bother coming in

> tomorrow, and just come in on Monday for another blood draw -

unless

> things get worse over the weekend. In that case, I will need to

come

> in " right away " for a blood transfusion!!! I then asked her " when

do

> you think all of this will be straightened out, a few days or

> so? " She says " I doubt it, but I really have no idea! If you

> start having difficulties, you need to go to the emergency room

> immediately! "

>

> Now, this is not the most encouraging of news, but I'm at least

glad

> we caught it early. Just goes to show you again the necessity of

> FREQUENT TESTING during any and all treatment sessions. Rad onc

> thinks my problem has been caused mostly by the radiation, but the

> Xeloda therapy has probably contributed as well. I would not be

> surprised!

>

> So that's where I stand as of tonight. Glad to at least have SOME

> idea as to why I have felt so bad these last few days...when I

SHOULD

> have been feeling better!

>

> I am going to call the rad onc's office again tomorrow morning to

try

> and get a bit more information.

>

>

> Best Wishes to All,

>

>