Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

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mobrouser
Posts: 174
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 1:44 pm
Location: Ontario

Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

Postby mobrouser » Tue May 22, 2018 9:14 pm

I was supposed to have my 8th of 12 folfox infusions tomorrow but results from today's blood tests show both platelets and neutrophils are too low so I am delayed for a week. Platelets are just barely below the minimum level, but the neutrophils are at 0.9 where I've been told the minimum level is 1.5.
This is my fourth delay, and each of the previous ones ended up being 2 week delays.
Oxaliplatin has been reduced first to 90%, and then to 75%. I have asked if there is anything diet wise or possibly supplements that would speed up the rebuilding process and was told that only time will help.

Doe anyone here have any suggestions/recommendations to help rebuild blood counts between rounds?

8) mob
CC Dx 102017 age 58
Lap. right hemi-colectomy Dec 2017
Adenocarcinoma ascending colon – 6cm x 6cm x 2cm, Low Grade, penetrates to peritoneum
T4a N2a M0, Stage IIIC
lymph nodes 6 positive out of 18
FOLFOX start Jan/18 end Aug/8 (felt like a year)
CEA - 01/15/18-2.8; 07/29/18-5.3; 09/19-2.4; 03/20-2.7; 09/20-2.9
CT scan 08/18 - Clear; 10/19 - Clear; * 10/20 - 8mm & 6mm nodules in liver
PET scan 09/18 (thought about bringing the cat :wink: ) - Clear
Colonoscopy Dec 7 2018 - Clear - Next in 3 years?

Aqx99
Posts: 403
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 7:28 am
Facebook Username: aqx99
Location: Pfafftown, NC

Re: Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

Postby Aqx99 » Wed May 23, 2018 11:41 am

I had the same issue while I was in chemo. My oncologist told me that the only way to keep your blood counts up is to drink plenty of fluids and keep your weight up. I also doubled the amount of B12 I was taking, because I figured it couldn't hurt.
Anne, 40
Stage IIIB Rectal Cancer
T3N1bM0
2/21/17 Dx, Age 39
2/21/17 CEA 0.9
3/23/17 - 5/2/17 Chemoradiation, 28 treatments
6/14/17 Robotic LAR w/temp loop ileostomy, ovaries & fallopian tubes removed, 2/21 lymph nodes positive
7/24/17 - 12/18/17 CapeOx, 6 Cycles
7/24/17 Dx w/ovarian cancer
9/6/17 CA 125 11.1
11/27/17 CEA 2.6
12/5/17 CT NED
12/13/17 CEA 2.9
1/11/18 CA 125 8.6
1/23/18 Reversal
3/21/18 CT enlarged thymus
4/6/18 PET NED
7/10/18 CT NED
7/11/18 CEA 2.6
9/18 Bilateral Prophylactic Mastectomy

zephyr
Posts: 363
Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2016 7:31 am

Re: Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

Postby zephyr » Wed May 23, 2018 12:49 pm

My spleen is enlarged and creating an on-going battle with platelets. I've been told that time is answer but it's also been suggested that toasted sesame seed oil and shark liver oil might help. I opted for plain, organic tahini made with roasted sesame seeds, and shark liver oil capsules. I can't tell you with complete certainty that it's helping but I have managed to keep my platelets just above the chemo-postponement cut-off for 5 months. I'm taking one 500 mg shark liver oil capsule twice a day, and 1 Tbsp. of tahini twice a day. You can also buy toasted sesame seed oil and take one Tbsp. 2x/day instead of the tahini.
Nov-2009 Early stage CRC, routine colonoscopy
2010-2014 F/U colonoscopies, all clear
Jun-2016 CRC during F/U colonoscopy, surgery, Stage 4, KRAS, MSS
Aug-2016-May-2018 Folfox, 5FU, Folfiri & Avastin
Aug/Sep-2018 YAG laser surgeries (Germany), 11 nodules removed
Nov-2018 clean CT scan
Mar-2019 New lung nodules
Apr-2019 Dec-2020 Xeloda/Avastin, SBRT, cont. Xeloda/Avastin
Mar-2021 Forfiri/Avastin
Mar-2022 Ablation & Thoracotomy
Feb-2023 Folfiri & Avastin
Nov-2023 Xeloda & Avastin

heiders33
Posts: 363
Joined: Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:08 am

Re: Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

Postby heiders33 » Wed May 23, 2018 2:53 pm

I ate a lot of beans and chicken when my platelets were down during chemo. I managed to get my platelets up for my next treatment, so I assume it worked.
40 year-old female
May 2017: Dx rectal cancer T3N2M0
MSS, KRAS G12D
6/17: 28 days chemorad
9/17: LAR/loop ileostomy, CAPOX six rounds
3/18: reversal
9/18: liver met, resection/HAI pump, 11 rounds 5FU, 1 round FUDR
11/19 - local recurrence, brachytherapy, 3 weeks targeted radiation
12/21 - end colostomy

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mobrouser
Posts: 174
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 1:44 pm
Location: Ontario

Re: Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

Postby mobrouser » Wed May 23, 2018 8:25 pm

Thanks everyone. My biggest issue seems to be with neutrophils. One oncologist suggested Neupogen injections, but I didn't like the sounds of the side effects plus I already have to give myself (and hate) daily blood thinner injections. My regular oncologist wasn't for it either. I think my next appointment with her is in mid June so I'll see what she says then.
I read somewhere that vitamin K would help, but couldn't find it except as K + D3. Label says not to take if on blood thinners so that rules me out.
I am taking B12 plus a relatively high dose iron supplement so my RBC is good.
My weight is staying stable during treatments and I am drinking lots of water.

8) mob
CC Dx 102017 age 58
Lap. right hemi-colectomy Dec 2017
Adenocarcinoma ascending colon – 6cm x 6cm x 2cm, Low Grade, penetrates to peritoneum
T4a N2a M0, Stage IIIC
lymph nodes 6 positive out of 18
FOLFOX start Jan/18 end Aug/8 (felt like a year)
CEA - 01/15/18-2.8; 07/29/18-5.3; 09/19-2.4; 03/20-2.7; 09/20-2.9
CT scan 08/18 - Clear; 10/19 - Clear; * 10/20 - 8mm & 6mm nodules in liver
PET scan 09/18 (thought about bringing the cat :wink: ) - Clear
Colonoscopy Dec 7 2018 - Clear - Next in 3 years?

User avatar
mobrouser
Posts: 174
Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 1:44 pm
Location: Ontario

Re: Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

Postby mobrouser » Tue May 29, 2018 9:52 pm

Update:
I was scheduled for blood tests this morning and chemo infusion this afternoon. Results came back - neutrophils are down now to 0.7 from last week's 0.9.
So home I went. I got a phone call a few hours later from the cancer centre to say that another blood test has been scheduled for Thursday followed by an appointment with my oncologist(I wasn't scheduled to see her this round) and then chemo infusion on Friday morning.

I'm confused. How am I supposed to double my neutrophil count in 48 hours, when it is lower than last week?
I've looked and haven't really found anything diet wise to boost WBC that I'm not already eating. The helpful suggestions already posted here are more for platelets which I am happy to say are now back up in the low normal range.
Still hoping someone has some info to share...

8) mob

Auto correct seems to prefer necrophilia over neutrophils.... :oops:
CC Dx 102017 age 58
Lap. right hemi-colectomy Dec 2017
Adenocarcinoma ascending colon – 6cm x 6cm x 2cm, Low Grade, penetrates to peritoneum
T4a N2a M0, Stage IIIC
lymph nodes 6 positive out of 18
FOLFOX start Jan/18 end Aug/8 (felt like a year)
CEA - 01/15/18-2.8; 07/29/18-5.3; 09/19-2.4; 03/20-2.7; 09/20-2.9
CT scan 08/18 - Clear; 10/19 - Clear; * 10/20 - 8mm & 6mm nodules in liver
PET scan 09/18 (thought about bringing the cat :wink: ) - Clear
Colonoscopy Dec 7 2018 - Clear - Next in 3 years?

NHMike
Posts: 2555
Joined: Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:43 am

Re: Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

Postby NHMike » Wed May 30, 2018 6:31 am

We did two 1-week breaks to get them back up. My bloods looked a lot better after two weeks without chemo after Neo-Adjuvant.
6/17: ER rectal bleeding; Colonoscopy
7/17: 3B rectal. T3N1bM0. 5.2 4.5 4.3 cm. Lymphs: 6 x 4 mm, 8 x 6, 5 x 5
7/17-9/17: Xeloda radiation
7/5: CEA 2.7; 8/16: 1.9; 11/30: 0.6; 12/20 1.4; 1/10 1.8; 1/31 2.2; 2/28 2.6; 4/10 2.8; 5/1 2.8; 5/29 3.2; 7/13 4.5; 8/9 2.8, 2/12 1.2
MSS, KRAS G12D
10/17: 2.7 2.2 1.6 cm (-90%). Lymphs: 3 x 3 mm (-62.5%), 4 x 3 (-75%), 5 x 3 (-40%). 5.1 CM from AV
10/17: LAR, Temp Ileostomy, Path Complete Response
CapeOx (8) 12/17-6/18
7/18: Reversal, Port Removal
2/19: Clean CT

crikklekay
Posts: 142
Joined: Thu Feb 15, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Richmond, VA

Re: Rebuilding neutrophils and platelets

Postby crikklekay » Wed May 30, 2018 9:18 am

My husband seems to have the opposite problem, while his neutrophil count and platelets are both low it's his platelets that are hovering just above the minimum number. When he had MSSA in the hospital they gave him the injection you mentioned and it helped a lot really fast, he went from neutropenic to normal in just 2 days. My guess is they scheduled the infusion on Friday just in case your bloodwork came out OK so you wouldn't lose more days.

I wish you the best of luck, I couldn't find anything online on how to help either count except for the injection you mentioned. He just finished his 7th round and I'm afraid his 8th may be delayed due to low counts, so we're right there with you!
Caring for DH John
Stage IIIC, Lymph nodes: 6/22
Chemo: FOLFOX (6)
12/17 ER and emergency surgery
02/18 Hospital w/MSSA infected port, PICC line inserted, chest CT scan showed septic emboli & blood clots
03/18 Hospital w/CDIFF
08/18 CT Scan Clear, NEMD
2018/2019/2021 Colonoscopy Clear
2019/2020/2021/2022 CT Scan Clear
2021 PET scan & MRI show one spot on liver
08/21 Liver surgery to remove spot, confirmed mCRC. Now Stage IV
09/21 Start Folfiri + Avastin
03/22 CEA Rise, continuing chemo


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