I need advice please! Had my bloods done this morning. I felt good last week but a bit wonky and tired this week, i put it down to cumulative chemo effects, plus a bit of a cold, as am due my final tax tomorrow, after 3 fec and 2 tax which have all been done on time.
But i did have a niggly thought it might be anaemia, so i phoned my bcn today and results were back and my red blood count is 10. My white cells are fine at 5.7, but she said they like ladies to have a count of 11.5 at least to do chemo, but thought they might do it if they base it on the white cells. My onc and the chemo nurses were unavailable predictably!
I have a vague recollection that at my last session i discussed with my chemo nurse that my red cells were dropping a bit each time and she said they dont worry really til they go below ten. But i had had that anti anxiety tablet and a syringe of piriton at the time so was a bit woolly!
I have had watercress,spinach, roast lamb, cabbage, gravy made with cabbage water, orange juice and my husband is bringing home some guiness…
how long does it take to get your red cells up by diet? What else can i try tonight? If they refuse my last chemo tmrw, is it worth asking for new bloods to be tested tmrw in case its gone up? What about a blood transfusion? Could i have one and then the chemo? How low do counts be to have a transfusion? Has anyone had chemo delayed due to low red counts and how low was it?
Any advice welcome as i really really really really dont want my last session delayed, i am all psyched up!
Cornbeef is very high in iron, I know as I have a blood complaint as well as having Chemo to contend with, hope that helps also vit C and no tea with meals it distroys the iron in the meal
Mu usual blood count is 9 any way
O vickie I am so sorry to hear your news - the last hurdle (nearly) and not quite there… I thought it was only low white blood count cells whereby they wouldn’t do chemo - didn’t realise it was red too… i must admit no one has ever mentioned my red ones.
They obviously don’t want to put you at any risk so to delay to get them up is probably sensible - but to be honest I am not sure whether you are on the cusp (and may get away with it) or not.
I think they do go up - I was told a glass of red wine is good for your bloods - and have always had one (only one) prior to my tests and its seems to have done the trick.
fingers crossed they will use the white blood count and you will go ahead as planned tomorrow… xx
Really don’t know what to suggest. I needed iron after my op as had red cell count of 9 but had to take them for 3 months. So no help there. Have you phoned your onc friend? She could probably tell u. Hope they don’t postpone it but you don’t want to be I’ll either. I did have a chemo with a women last time where they gave her, her chemo and then she hung around for a while and then she had a blood transfusion- wonder if she was anaemic? Sorry this blip has happened now. Debx
Oh Vickie, I am sorry too but you never know with all the iron enriched foods you have had to today, it just may be up tomorrow, I hope so. I was also told red wine is good for the red blood count, I once read a thread on here where one ladies count went really up after having red wine. Liver is good too but it may be a bit late in the night to send OH to supermarket and cook up a liver dish, I don’t like liver so I wouldn’t know what to cook. I also know that fortified cereals are a good source of iron, this is something you can munch all night if necessary. If they are thinking of delaying your chemo I would phone them first thing in the morning to see if you can have a blood test first thing, the results don’t take long and it could still go ahead tomorrow, especiaally as it is your last one and you physced up for it. Good Luck! Amanda xx
Have you tried the liquid iron supplement, spatone, I was very low after my surgery and used that as it’s easily absorbed and hasn’t got the se’s like iron tablets. Hope they go ahead for you!!
i know, is a right bummer, kicking myself for not listening to my body and going esarly this week as then could have had transfucsion or something maybe? Have found dark chocolate in the cupboard and eaten that, have had some guiness. I could drink a bit of guiness earlier in cycle when i was trying to boost bloods as had no taste buds, but now its pretty yuk. Will get the red wine out, had forgotten that!Are blood transfusions dangerous or something to worry about? I have no experience of them, though am not adverse to it. Bit freaky though, someone elses blood in me, is like having a human hair wig, someone elses hair on my head! That freaks me out a bit too!
ps my friend has been at work today and packing to go away tomorrow so hasnt returned text yet, she only checks her phone every few hours at most! Will call her when am sure the kids bedtime is over and bug her…yet again…
When I had my 5th FEC, haemoglobin (HB) was 10.2. The replacement nurse (my regular nurse and onc were both on holiday, just typical!) said that they won’t worry until it’s down to 9.5. But because I don’t accept blood transfusion, my “special danger” level was set at 11. Replacement nurse didn’t know this so it took me a while to persuade her that this is risky for me. Finally got on the phone to my onc who was in France and he decided to risk it!!! No complications afterwards, I’m glad to say. He did say he’s going to order an expensive drug for me to boost my HB level if I need to have it.
Had my last FEC (6th) today and HB were back up to 11.3, so even though my insurance company has agreed to pay for the very expensive drug, I didn’t need it today. Was told I can still have it if I’d like to, but that means I’ll have to go to the clinic everyday for 3 weeks!!! Don’t really want to do that so didn’t bother.
I’ve heard beetroot is very good, too. But will leave the diet bit for others because I’m not a big fun of it. Anyway, hope yours can go ahead tomorrow. Will think about you.
Hi Vickie
My friends haemoglobin has been the lower end of 10 all through her FEC, she has just had her 2nd TAX and it was 10.1, they said it was slightly down, but no worries! on the flip side her wbc has not gone below 9! whereas my wbc has been between 6.9 and 4.6 and my haemoglobin has stayed in the 13’s
Everything crossed for
Sandrax
thanks for the comments and ideas everyone. Have managed to speak to my oncologist friend ( is very handy to have a breast oncologist for a best friend!) and she said my consultant will barely flick an eye at those results! She can see no problem going ahead with the chemo, if the levels had been 8 or 9 then they would probably have done the chemo and then give me a blood transfusion after, apparently this is something they do quite a lot. The cell counts often drop gradually through chemo. If this was my second chemo they might be more worried and have a think about the best way to proceed, but as its my sixth then i will just get through and recover as there isnt another to knock it down. I hope my onc thinks on the same lines, but as he trained her then i suspect he does!
Am still eating this dark chocolate thtough as is very nice!
Floradix Vickie! I did the trick for me when I was pg first time and this time seems to have kept my red blood up ok. It’s easily absorbed plant extract, liquid form the best. Obviously too late now but first thing tomrorow, Holland and Barrett. xxx
Vicki only just seen your thread hope the choc does the trick on top of all your iron rich food to day was about to come round and offer you some of my blood if we are the same blood group. Never had a prob with red cells ( but don’t have periods either) WBC rubbish every time but had inj for it. Hope your Onc OKs it. As last one you have more time to recover. Keeping everything crossed for you tomorrow Hugs Jackie
Hi Vickie,
Really sorry what a worry. I know I’m still a novice where the T is concerned as just had 3rd FEC, but just looked in my chemo book and HB has been around 10 all along. This time 10.1, the onc is giving me the injections and said I’ll need to take them every chemo but didn’t seem worried at all.
I always have bloods done on Tuesday, see the onc on Wed and then chemo on Thursday. When we were talking about bloods he said if he was worried would redo the bloods before chemo and would write up levels required for chemo. I could then wait for the results so wouldn’t put off unless absolutely necessary as he said a day can make a difference.
Take care and fingers crossed you get there.
Love Joxx
thats great that they can improve in a day, feel more armed for e heated discussion if it comes to it! My appointment is half nine tomorrow so no time for holland and barret trip, i have to go early as it takes longer for me as have to have piriton syringe and wait half an hour for that to work cos of my allergic reaction to first tax, then is on a sssssssllllllooooowwwwwww sssssslllllooooowwwww drip too. Jane, never heard of that stuff, wish now i had! was thinking of starting a thread about three tips to get you through surgery, chemo, rads. The exisitng chemo thread scared the sh*t out of me as it wandered off into horror stories, so i stopped reading it! But have already been “new thread happy” today so might leave it for a bit. If anyone else wants to start it, its fine by me. Jane, you should post that iron stuff.
Thanks for everyones comments, how good is this forum for practical support and for information! Thanks girls. And prepare yourself for my emotional outbursts this weekend if my chemo goes ahead, i cant help but share my misery around every cycle!
Sleep well Vicki ( or as well as poss)Rant all you like at the week-end. Keeping everything crossed for you. Great big cyber hugs coming your way((( ))) Jackie
Thinking of you and wishing every drip is a drip less!
Just got back from my bloods, machine broken so don’t know the results, said they will ring if a problem. Not expecting any problems so all steam ahead!
Love and Hugs
Sandra xxx