#54546 03-31-2004 09:40 AM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 102 Senior Member (100+ posts) |  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 102 | My husband's WBC was down to 2.3 during treatment. It came back up to 3.5 and that is basically where it has stayed for the past 3 1/2 cancer free years. Oncologist told us sometimes it just never goes back up, not to worry. Remarkably in the past 3 1/2 years my husband has had only one minor cold, nothing else. While my three children have had numerous colds and stomach viruses.
Julie
Wife to Kelly
SSC tonsil Stage IV
July 2000
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#54547 03-31-2004 11:10 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Hi Julie,
Mine has crept up to 3.1 from a low of 2.1. The doctor says that that it's no big deal but how does it impact the immune system? He also told me the same thing as you that it may never get back to where it was. I haven't had any colds or allergies either!
Tell Kelly congratulations on 3 1/2 cancer free years!
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#54548 03-31-2004 12:12 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Julie,
I just wanted to add also that Kelly and I had almost exactly the same experience, right tonsil, advanced staging, radiation and chemo only at a major comprehensive cancer center - Kelly at MD Anderson and myself at UCSF. Except I had IMRT. We both suffered in much the same way, in the same time frames, and have had a similar recovery experience as well.
I tell people all the time that this is your best shot. Kelly is living proof, hopefully I will be right behind him.
I hope that you post the 4 year anniversary on the survivor section in July. We need to see more victories here.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#54549 04-26-2004 09:52 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Gary: I just got my labs back the other day after chemo and rad, before surgery. my white blood cell count before starting treatment was 6.12. At the worst case during chemo it dropped to 2.05 which they tell me is not good. I went on Procrit, a blood treatment regimen, for 6 weeks and it improved to 5.49. My major problem was red blood cells as I was very anemic and very sensitive to cold. Those readings went from 38 before treatment to 29 at low point to 47 after Procrit. Another red cell meaasurement was 13.4 before, 10.2 worst case and 15.4 after Procrit. If you still have problems, ask about procrit. Its expensive at $800 per shot, but maybe your insurance will cover it, mine did.
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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#54550 04-26-2004 04:01 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Procrit stimulates the production of red blood cells. My WBC has been fine but hemoblobin has been about 11-12, normal range for men is 14 grams/deci-liter to 18 g/dl. Neupogen is for stimulating WBC and it costs around $1700 per shot.
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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