Dad could not get his 9th chemo treatment this week..cuz of low platelets in his blood.. the number is 71,000.00...(something like that).. we are hoping next week..he will be able to. Has anyone had this situation?.. What is the right number, that makes an oncologist feel comfortable..giving a patient chemo?.. Dad has stage 3 colon cancer..and is on Folfox program.. suppose to do 12 treatments in all..
Any feedback...would be appreciated.. Thanks, Christine
2007-12-12 01:29:49 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
My husband had melanoma cancer and we frequently had to have him transfused because of low platelets and/or hemoglobin. I assume they have given your dad a transfusion. When his counts go up they will begin his treatments again if they feel it is safe. As a previous writer wrote, low platelets mean problems clotting. It is important that your Dad be careful not to cut himself or have a bad fall or bump. He may show bruising from the slightest bump if platelets too low.
Hang in there and don't be afraid to ask the doctors and nurses questions. I questioned each and every step - "why does he have low platelets? what does it mean? what is needed to correct the condition?"
Hugs and best wishes to you and your family.
2007-12-12 01:53:31 · answer #1 · answered by dddanse 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, I have leukemia. A chemo would drop my platelets to 0. While I was in the hospital, the transfused at 10. Out of the hospital they transfused at 20. They wouldnt let me continue with my next treatment until they were at 100. (all numbers x10^3)
This is just my experience though.
2007-12-12 09:54:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a low white blood cell count and had to have injections daily for about 10 days between chemo treatments to help bring the count up. There were many other people who were also going through the same thing. The clinic I went to had a long line of people daily at 8 am for these injections.
2007-12-12 23:00:05 · answer #3 · answered by Simmi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure about chemo but I work in a hospital and if a patient's platelet count is below 80 then they won't perform their procedure. Chemo will make their platelet count lower. If it gets too low then their ability for the blood to clot is gone. It will take a long time for them to stop bleeding, or he could start bleeding internally. Your dad needs to be very careful and not hurt himself. Normal counts are usually in the 200 thousand. Hope this helps...........
2007-12-12 09:39:49 · answer #4 · answered by CDRN 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had leukemia and I often couldn't get treatments because my platelets were too low. Just so you know, 71,000 is not that bad. At one point, I was at 1, and even after getting transfused it would sometimes go down to 0. But they wont give your father another treatment because at this point, his body isn't able to handle it. once they rise to a certain point, it shows that the body is sufficiently producing platelets and other important things, such as white blood cells, red blood cells, neutrophils. etc. and that the body is able to handle another round of chemotherapy.
2007-12-16 01:34:46 · answer #5 · answered by mattsp_89 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thanks, my dad has cancer too. Lung cancer and last stage. He isn't doing very well, but i hope the best for your father. =)
2007-12-12 09:34:46 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋