The Colon Club

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?

mob

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.

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.

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.

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.

mob

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...

mob

Auto correct seems to prefer necrophilia over neutrophils....

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.

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!