My blood sucks 5 mo out!

[Jen]

I've been in a downer mood for the past 2 days since my wed. appt.
I had a general checkup with my onc. and I am waiting for my CEA read.
They flushed my port and did my metabolic blood panel and I had a bunch of lows and double lows. it was barely better than when I ended chemo in Dec.
I've been believing my blood was so much better, but my whites, reds, and plateletts suck. And I'm anemic
My onc says it is taking a while because of the radiation and that my marrow can take up to a year to recover.
Here I am exercising like a mad woman, eating crazy healthy, and believing that I have healed immensely...well it is extremely slow going on paper. I guess the saying "you are as good as you feel" or however the saying goes (I detroy cliches...I always get them wrong ) is what matters because I was believing I had come further and I was happy about that. Anyway, seeing my results slapped me in the face and made me feel like I was kidding myself thinking I was getting fit, building strong bones and muscles...I guess I still am, but how can my cells be cancer warriors if they are doing so poorly? I feel like I am ungaurded for whatever can hit me next. It just reminded me that this cancer thing is such a cellular level and that always frightens me.
My onc isn't concerned because he says things are creeping in the right direction. now it makes me think my CEA level is going to freak me out.
Gotta try to clear my mind and focus on health again.
Anyone take a while to have good blood results after chemo...is this really normal?

[NWgirl]

Jen - look at it from this perspective - what if you weren't living such a healthy lifestyle? Can you imagine what your blood work might be like then? Do you feel good? Are you enjoying life with your husband and son? Use those as measurements of good health - not just a bunch of numbers from a laboratory. I have no idea what my blood work looks like. My oncologist has never mentioned it as being problematic and I've never asked. I know this goes against what lots of people on this forum believe - that you need copies of all tests, etc. - but it just doesn't work for me. The more I know the more I tend to obsessively worry.

I know I still get tired way too easily. I know I'm still adjusting to my "new plumbing" which really sucks. And don't even get me started on the radiation damage issues! But I also know I'm doing tons of things this year that I couldn't do last year because I was going through treatment. I know it will continue to take time for my body to heal and for me to mentally adjust to the "new me".

For what it's worth your posts really inspire me. Train for a half marathon? Heck, I get tired after 45 minutes of mild cardio at the Y! Eating healthy? I'm just trying to figure out what I can eat to avoid spending half the night in the bathroom! I think you're doing great and I bet your family does too. Of course all the tests are important and are absolutely necessary. Just don't let them get you down. Just keep doing what you're doing - you'll get to where you want to be - it just takes time. You've been through a lot.

[CRguy]

I am still low lymphocytes (but heading to normal) 2 years after last chemoradiation and 18 months after last Xeloda chemo. Rest is all normal but took time, and Xeloda is not overly tough on the blood.

Have they checked your iron / ferritin / B vitamin level etc. ????? make sure they are up to speed with other things which can impact blood values. My medical oncologist is also a board certified Hematologist, but I don't know how specific other med oncos are about these things ??? Any supplements or other meds ?? nutritional items ?? could also check out a nutritionist for support ?

Cheers
CRguy

[wdt]

Same thing with my husband. He is 18 months out from chemo and radiation (Xeloda and Oxaliplatin) and his white count has never returned to normal. He's also still a bit anemic as well. The Onc. checked his B12, ferritin, etc and has had him on B12 (started with injections, now doing sublingual pills).