Anyone require blood transfusions during chemo?
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 6:47 pm
So, I woke up this morning with a bloody nose (not an uncommon thing for me as of late).
I've been trying to keep up with applying vasoline inside the nostrils at night, per nurse at my cancer clinic - but was too tired to do it last night.
Anyhow, besides the bloody nose - I noticed a blood blister inside my mouth. I called the cancer center and was connected to my oncologist.
He told me to go in and get another blood draw to check WBC and platelets - both of which I've been having issues with keeping up.
Labs came back and my WBC were still elevated from the 4 zarzio shots I received last week, but my platelets are continuing to drop.
I was at 99/150 at infusion day - last Tuesday. Now down to 77. Onc suggested to just monitor it for now - not too concerned unless platelets drop below 50.
Also said if I start to bleed and it won't stop in 10-15 minutes, I would need to go into Emergency Room and get a blood transfusion.
This kinda scares the hell out of me. Never had any sort of blood transfusion, and would rather not have one unless completely necessary.
Wondering if anyone else had to go this route for continued therapy.
As I stated in another thread, my ONC said he would give me the blessing to stop at 6 treatements (which I've now completed) - because of my bringing up the recent ASCO reports of 6 sessions being nearly as effective as 12. With the continued WBC and now platelet issue, it's giving me second thought on stopping now vs continuing to 8 treatments as I had discussed with my ONC and then reassessing from there.
Other than blood counts, neuropathy has been tolerable to me. Dealing with a little be more tingling fingers this round, but not so much that its effecting me much.
Any thoughts?
thx
BenBen
I've been trying to keep up with applying vasoline inside the nostrils at night, per nurse at my cancer clinic - but was too tired to do it last night.
Anyhow, besides the bloody nose - I noticed a blood blister inside my mouth. I called the cancer center and was connected to my oncologist.
He told me to go in and get another blood draw to check WBC and platelets - both of which I've been having issues with keeping up.
Labs came back and my WBC were still elevated from the 4 zarzio shots I received last week, but my platelets are continuing to drop.
I was at 99/150 at infusion day - last Tuesday. Now down to 77. Onc suggested to just monitor it for now - not too concerned unless platelets drop below 50.
Also said if I start to bleed and it won't stop in 10-15 minutes, I would need to go into Emergency Room and get a blood transfusion.
This kinda scares the hell out of me. Never had any sort of blood transfusion, and would rather not have one unless completely necessary.
Wondering if anyone else had to go this route for continued therapy.
As I stated in another thread, my ONC said he would give me the blessing to stop at 6 treatements (which I've now completed) - because of my bringing up the recent ASCO reports of 6 sessions being nearly as effective as 12. With the continued WBC and now platelet issue, it's giving me second thought on stopping now vs continuing to 8 treatments as I had discussed with my ONC and then reassessing from there.
Other than blood counts, neuropathy has been tolerable to me. Dealing with a little be more tingling fingers this round, but not so much that its effecting me much.
Any thoughts?
thx
BenBen