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Platelets Too Low for Chemo Infusion
Gynecologic Cancers | Last Active: May 14 3:28pm | Replies (34)Comment receiving replies
Update on my very early progress in my journey. My platelet count rebounded on its own enough for me to have my 4th cycle of chemo this past Monday. (Seems like years ago I started this thread?) My CA125 was down to 97 which I’m celebrating as a win. I am feeling significantly more pain/fatigue this time than the first 3, although it sounds like that is pretty normal.
I have a CT scan on Friday and meet with my surgeon the following Tuesday. I’m hoping that the lower CA125 means there’s less cancer to debulk during my surgery — but I could be totally wrong about that. (And I guess I’m also presuming that I’m still a candidate for surgery — which might be too presumptuous.) I also asked my oncologist about HIPEC during surgery, but she said due to the extent of the metastasis I wouldn’t be a candidate for it. During my initial scans there was a section of thickening in my colon that they couldn’t rule out as either metastasis from the peritoneal cancer or a secondary colon cancer. My oncologist recommended not doing any biopsies because they would be able to get more “robust” tissue samples during surgery. My second opinion oncologist said she thought it was not a secondary cancer. I’m hoping I haven’t squandered time addressing it and have made the right decisions when I’m given decisions to make.
I also asked not to have Avastin as part of my initial chemo because of the risk of bowel perforation. Even though the risk is very low, so too was my risk of getting this type of cancer after my preventative surgery. My aunt also died from ovarian cancer shortly after having a bowel perforation, and my gut told me to avoid anything that could cause a perf if I could avoid it. The plan (from what I’ve gathered) is to use Avastin as maintenance after my 6 cycles of chemo.
Anywho, thanks for being a safe space for this terrified newbie. The kindness/advice/info from you all has been more helpful in helping me understand what is or might be going on with my body and what the future may look like than any info I’ve gotten from my medical team.
So grateful for you all. < 3
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@korinja Thank you for coming back and sharing your latest. That's so wonderful that your platelet count has rebounded and you had your 4th cycle last week. I too hope and pray that with the chemotherapy you will have less cancer to resect during your surgery.
It's always difficult to decide whether to seek out that second opinion which also means a delay or go ahead with what you know from your initial consult. I think you were wise to get that second opinion. You've been doing your own research. Of course with your aunt's death due to ovarian cancer after a bowel perforation you are worried about that with yourself. Did you talk with your oncologist about that?
Thank you for sharing that you find this a safe place to share your fears. We are all here for you and will jump on and provide all the support that we can.
Will you please let us know what happens at your appointment with your surgeon?