After my husbands 2nd Chemo treatment the doctors found his red blood cell count was low. His radiation doctor is saying he may not be able to have his 3rd Chemo treatment. He really wants to have it. He had a previous bout with death when he lost alot of blood (happened when his feed tube was inserted) and his red blood cell count was very low. He looked pale as a ghost at that time but at this point in time he looks more healthy and has colour in his skin. Physically he is doing well and the his doctor is telling him he is making excellent progress. Any suggestions. Carol....

Hi Carol. I missed my last chemo due to low counts. What I was told was that the chemo was used with the radiation and if my counts were to low on the last treatment date there would be no need to do it once radiation was completed. I'm kind of glad because I don't think my hearing could've handled much more. I was actually doing well. I was still driving myself to treatments and was not on any pain med yet.

The chemo had done what it was supposed to do and weakened my system. The most important thing to do now is to stay hydrated and also keep up the calories and nutrition. This will help him the most. I didn't have a peg so at the end I had to take fluids.

My counts were still slightly low at 6 weeks. post tx. Cysplatin is supposed to be pretty aggressive so low counts are normal. Be sure to keep an eye on them even though it is normal.

The counts really determine whether they can go forward with chemo because of their potential to make it worse. I would ask if they are planning to give him anything to boost the counts or just delaying the treatment to see if they recover on their own. Jack's 3rd treatment was delayed for a week, they gave him a shot and then rescheduled it when the counts came back up to what they considered the acceptable range.
Regards JoAnne

Joanne, do you recall what the shot was?? They are waiting to see if the count goes back up on its own. His final week is next week the 7th week, I believe. He was scheduled to have the chemo during that week. Carol....

It was aranesp for the red count. Jack got a chemo treatment after the radiation ended, it just worked out that way with the delay from the low counts. He had more problems with low white counts and got nuepogen for that but the red was an issue too. Hopefully it will come back up soon. Regards JoAnne

Aransep. . .I believe that is the injection I had a couple of times following treatment to bring my hemo count back up. I have been trying to remember the name and knew that it started with letter "A". I had 2 such injections about 2 or 3 weeks apart and the billed amount from the hospital to my insurance company was $6,000 for each shot! Aetna actually paid about $4800 as I recall. It was also one of the more painful injections I can ever recall having. It did the trick as far as bringing up the count.

Bill D.

My Gramp has luekemia and does chemo, dont know the name of it but I know he gets shot as well for his blood counts ,