Question about chemo and blood work

Please feel free to read, share your thoughts, your stories and connect with others!
Volfan
Posts: 73
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 7:58 am

Question about chemo and blood work

Postby Volfan » Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:06 pm

I was supposed to have had my 8th treatment this last Tuesday. My blood work came back with low wbc and something else low. So Doc told me we I needed to wait a week for chemo.
I was initially concerned about not having the chemo. He reassured me since my cea has dropped so much and a good scan to not worry about it.
He told me the only thing to worry about is shaving my stomach for the neulasta I will be getting at pump disconnect and stay away from sick people of course.
Is this something that happens from time to time?
Stage IV Rectal cancer with liver mets
Oxaliplatin, avastin, 5fu
48 yr dude

Basil
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2017 12:33 pm

Re: Question about chemo and blood work

Postby Basil » Thu Jul 20, 2017 7:20 pm

Pretty routine to delay treatment for low blood counts. I delayed my sixth FOLFOX round a week and a half due to low platelets. Onc was not concerned.
40 y/o male (now 46), kids 11 & 14.
Dx 3/16/17, rectal cancer s3,t3,n1,m0
PROSPCT trial (FOLFOX in lieu of chemorad)
FOLFOX 4/5/17 - 6/26/17
LAR 7/31/17, temp ileo
pathological complete response
Adjuvant chemo cancelled (IDEA Study)
Ileo reversed 9/25/17
NED
1 year scans - clear
2 year scans - clear
3 year scans - clear
4 year scans - clear
5 year scans - clear (considered cured)

benben
Posts: 324
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 3:18 pm
Location: Washington State

Re: Question about chemo and blood work

Postby benben » Thu Jul 20, 2017 10:10 pm

Yes low WBC is quite common with Folfox/chemo.
I had low WBC after the very first treatment neutrophils were at 1050 AKA 1.05 - depending on your chart reading.
They still gave me chemo, and then I got 2 granix shots the next week. But still at treatment 3 I was delayed 2 days because my neutrophils had dropped to 420.
Treatment 4 I received 2 more shots and my neutrophils boosted to 5500. Shots were spaced out more and given little before the day prior to treatment.
Treatment 5 they reduced me to one zarzio shot 2 days before infusion. My neutrophils were down to 770, but they wanted me to do chemo anyways. So with a little reluctance I gave in.
Next week I have to look forward to 3 zarzio shots on my good week... BLAH! They cause at the least, some bone and muscle lethargy, and at the most excruciating bone wrenching pain.

You made it to round 8 before having low WBC, you did quite well in my book.
My last nurse told me about 80% experience low WBC at the center I attend.
After 8 rounds if you have done Olaxi the entire time at max dose, you might also consider lowering the dose significantly or even dropping it if you're experiencing other neuropathy effects that are severe.

If you have low neutrophils you'll want to minimize any and all risk of infection.
I found this document very helpful

https://patienteducation.osumc.edu/documents/low_wbc_precautions.pdf
----------------------
3/29/17 diagnosed CRC - 44 y/o Male
4/17/17 ULAR - Straight anastomosis - no ostomy.
Path: low grade T3n1m0 - moderate diff.
KRAS - NO, MLH1/PMS2/MSH6/MSH2 - Normal.
5/3 med port install
5/22 folfox - first treatment.
3rd treat, delayed - low ANC - reduced to 90% OXI
zarxio all treats
Treat 7 - 75% OXI
Treats 8-12 - NO OXI, Luke & 5FU
10/20/17 CT- NED
3/18 Scope - Clean
11/8 PORT OUT!
7/22 CT - NED (5 years!)

mozart13
Posts: 158
Joined: Fri Dec 09, 2016 7:38 pm
Location: Toronto

Re: Question about chemo and blood work

Postby mozart13 » Mon Jul 24, 2017 2:46 pm

I have this problem since 3rd round of folfox, couple of times postponed treatment by week, on grastofil injections to boost neutrophills, initally 4 , now on 7, going tommorow for my 7th folfox cycle, will be interesting to see blood results.
So nothing unusual for this kind of treatment to be delayed, plus all those nasty side effects.
Take things as they come, I usually enjoy extra week when given, start to feel myself again.

Good luck!
55 year at the time of diagnosis, male
Diagnosed with T1,T2 N0 M0 rectal cancer
Total neoadjuvant therapy or TNT (chemoradiation followed by systemic chemotherapy)
Negative since Feb. '17
No surgery
Watch&Wait approach 8)
I don’t come much to the forum , so if this is not updated it means I remain negative!
Wish good luck to all!

mariane
Posts: 704
Joined: Sun Sep 13, 2015 6:16 pm

Re: Question about chemo and blood work

Postby mariane » Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:01 pm

I also had low counts. My oncologist did not like it. She opposed longer gaps between chemo treatments. At one point I even got 5 Neupogen shots within a week on Folfirinox. This harsh approach worked for me. I had almost complete pathological response after first 4 systemic treatments and 100% at the end.
mom of now 14 years old twins, dx @ 40 in 6/2015 with upper rectal cancer, 10+ liver mets, CEA 140
chemo: 8/2015 - 10/2016 - 4xFOLFIRINOX, 2xFOLFOX, 8xFOLFIRI, 10x5FU, HAI pump -12xFUDR
4 surgeries, complete pathological response
CEA<2 since 10/2015
NED since May 2016

I praise God for every day with my family!

fumaros
Posts: 273
Joined: Sat Jul 02, 2016 10:26 pm
Location: Syracuse, NY
Contact:

Re: Question about chemo and blood work

Postby fumaros » Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:25 pm

Yes, low WBC is one of the main side effects of FOLFOX, my WBCs were particularly sensitive and would nose dive to low numbers almost after each treatment after the sixth round. I was receiving neulasta shots after every disconnect for about half my treatments. They never delayed my scheduled round of chemo. Also, i received the shot in my triceps, not my stomach.
Diagnosed 4/8/16, age 29
Colectomy 4/20/16
Stage III, T4bN1 Tumor 7x6.5x2. Muscinous Adenocarcinoma with SRC features
2/16 lymph nodes
Stage IV, Peri mets 5/2019
CEA 4/14/16 - 16.8
CEA 6/2/16 - 1.9
CEA 6/17/16 - 0.87, 7/16 - 1.33, 12/16 - 1.14, 4/17 - 0.6, 7/17 - 0.5, 10/17 - 0.9, 3/19 -5.8, 4/19 -10
FOLFOX began 6/24/16 - 11/25/16, FOLFIRI - 5/10/19
10 round FOLFOX, 2 round 5-FU & Leucovorin, 1 round FOLFIRI
MRI & CT 8/16 - NED, CT 12/16 - 10/17 - NED

Volfan
Posts: 73
Joined: Sat Mar 11, 2017 7:58 am

Re: Question about chemo and blood work

Postby Volfan » Mon Jul 24, 2017 4:27 pm

Thanks for the responses.
I was able to get my treatment today with the week off.
I will be getting the neulasta at pump disconnect Wednesday.

Did get some good news that my cea dropped again to 7.6 from a high of 103 the first of April.
Stage IV Rectal cancer with liver mets
Oxaliplatin, avastin, 5fu
48 yr dude


Return to “Colon Talk - Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) support forum”



Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 23 guests