Hello all, it has been a while since I was here with you folks.
I am posting with good news. My platelets have been increasing in number for the last two CBC,s. They now stand at 98 just shy of the 100 I need to get to so I can start first line chemo. My counts have never been high enough for cisplatin (I know I spelled it wrong ). and going to discuss what other drug they are going to pair it with. I really hope that chemo does not kick my ass that bad. I am feeling much stronger than before. Cancer has not made any drastic move yet. But I think I should get while the getting is good. And the doctor is prepared to give me platelet infusion if needed. But wont give it to me on a regular basis.( the more you get the faster they demise) As we need to have the option for more if a emergency bleed happens. I have enjoyed my little treatment holiday, but it is time to get back to getting this cancer the hell out of me! Or at least stop it from Meting to distant organs. Bad enough to have the local Mets. I have heard that this treatment has a small % of cure. I would love to throw that terminal DX right back to the all mighty tumor board). Hope all is well with you guys, Shawn U.

So Shawn, my name is Tom and I started posting since you were here last. I have followed your ordeal however and am wishing you the very best. I love your attitude. Dont ever give up. I am sure everyone here is rooting for you. A friend of mine was in the same spot as you but started with cervical cancer with distant mets.kept having to wait to get her platelets up. about 4 years ago she was declared terminal. She was nervous last week as she went for her Pet. Gotta love NED, everybodies best friend.

Shawn, I also have had platelet issue over the years, even way before the OC.

With everything you are going thru and have been thru recently its no wonder your body's immune system is compromised and the blood counts arent where they should be. Also, your diet could play a part in having a low platelet count. Before you make any dietary changes check with your doctor. I have no medical degree or training in nutrition but eating healthy is always a good idea.

Foods to improve platelet counts:
liver
eggs
leafy greens like spinach
tomatoes
sweet potatoes
kidney beans
adding more fruit and vegetables



Bad foods that will decrease platelet counts:
tonic water
biter lemon
diet soda or anything that contains aspartame
white rice
white sugar
alcohol
white flour


Good luck and I hope this will help.

Glad your numbers are increasing Shawn. Your platelets may also be compounded by your HIV status, which can cause low platelets anyway, and from medications, in addiction to a compromised bone marrow from your chemo and radiation treatment where the platelets, along with the rest of the RBC are produced, and may not be making enough or are being destroyed at a faster rate than they can be replaced, and have a cell life of 5-9 days. I have the same problem, but with my Hemaglobin, which is part of the RBC. I hear you on the platelets transfusion, and know whole blood is not good to get either due to complications, and even has an increase risk of recurrences in head and neck cancer, and was surpirsed to resd that a few years ago. I forget which one, maybe with platelet tranfusion, your RBC may drop or and need a whole blood transfusion. I used to get epogen/procrit shots too, which helps produce more RBC, but with active cancer or when the Hemaglobin is higher than 12, I wish, and if shots are given it can speed up cancer too, although I'm not sure about platelets is effected the same or the shots would work the same. I also see a local hematologist, most oncologists are I believe, but she is not my cancer treating doctor, and monitors my blood levels closely. A few times I needed blood transfusions when it was dangerously low, so needed to be hospitalized, and more a dozen times received the epogen (Lance Armstrong) injection lol, which are like $700 a pop, but it helps with the QOL.

Thanks Christine,Paul and Tom,
Glad your here Tom, I hope that you are still NED!

Thank you Shawn. In addition to what Christine said about eating a nutritional diet. My friend who had platelet issues told me that proper rest helps a great deal also. I would imagine that with your RBC low; rest is what you would want to do anyway. Wishing you the very best. Tomo.

Livestrong.com is not a trusted source we can use here. Lance sold the .com address off for several million dollars. It is not run by, nor part of the foundation.org, organization. They let just about anyone author pages of info for it, and it is full of commercial content. Sorry Paul, but I have to delete that one link.

No problem. I thought we can trust Lance