Is there anything one can do to bring up the blood platelets so chemo can continue?
2006-11-24 06:13:16 · 7 answers · asked by VICKY G 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Most physicians will delay the chemo and wait for the bone marrow to recover on it's own. I will not give chemo if the platelet count is below 100,000. I will tranfuse platelets if a patient is below 20,000 or if they are bleeding. I do not use Neumega since the side effects are worse that the effect of the drug. Many patients have gone into congestive heart failure on this medication. Few oncologists that I know use it.
2006-11-24 08:06:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When my daughter was having chemo for leukaemia, her doctors didnt delay chemo because of low platelets, there only concern was her white counts. If her platelets went below 20 they gave her a transfusion.
Since finishing chemo back in Feb, she has had low platelets last blood test was about 60. Her doctor said that her platelet count may never be normal again. I would speak to your doctor about what you could take (even natural therapies that may be suggested) Most doctors dont like you taking anything extra, just incase it interfears with the chemo.
Hope they come up soon, its always a concern when your out if your going to start bleeding everywhere.
2006-11-24 17:23:06 · answer #2 · answered by lividuva 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Neumega is the brand name for the blood cell growth factor you are looking for. Check with your doctor to see if he feels this would benefit you.
Chemotherapy sometimes reduces the number of blood cells in circulation in the body. The three major blood cells are red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Patients are monitored closely every two or three days to track how their CBC (complete Blood count) is doing during chemotherapy.
Many patients take blood cell growth factors before their blood counts plummit (usually treatment starts the day after chemo ends and continues until blood count goes up to acceptable levels).
Aranesp and Procrit are the blood cell growth factor drugs used for low red blood cell counts.
Neupogen or Neulasta is used to boost low white blood cell counts.
Neumega (Oprelvekin) is the blood cell growth factor used to prevent low platelet counts.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/203420.html
2006-11-24 06:44:20 · answer #3 · answered by Panda 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi there !
I presume you are on chemotherapy ? for ?
since how long ?
whats your present platelet count ?
all details would have helped in a big way to answer the question !
anyway, to condense everything, if the platelet count is around 50000-70000 / mm3, nothing to worry !
Ultimately it depends upon the consultant concerned ! Some consultants dont mind even when the platelet count go down to still lower levels ! so..the best judge ..as per my opinion, would be your consultant oncologist !Talk to him please !
2006-11-24 06:25:39 · answer #4 · answered by suresh k 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) is prescribed to reduce the risk of infection (initially marked by fever) in patients with some tumors receiving chemotherapy that may decrease the number of infection-fighting white blood cells.
2006-11-24 06:25:13 · answer #5 · answered by mike1962 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, thats exactly what went on with my dad when he had cancer. I hope thats not the case for your daughter. The hematologist will be able to answer this question for you. Try not to worry! Her iron would be low if she was anemic.
2016-03-29 07:41:22 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
just take a break and let your bone marrow replenish them...there is no drug that you can take...if they are too low a plasma transfusion would help
2006-11-24 06:24:10 · answer #7 · answered by janellie 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋