Low Platelets: Anyone else go through this?

Posted by howleegirl @howleegirl, May 28, 2023

Husband has not received his chemo treatments in 5 weeks.....His platelets are too low. Anyone else go through this. It's scaring me!!!

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The academic hospital where I'm being treated for "inoperable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas" has what amounts to a graduated scale.
Platelet count WNL - no questions asked.
Somewhere between 80-120,000 - treatment can be given according to existing protocols, as long as the physician has given the okay ahead of time.
Platelet counts that are below an existing pre-approved level, REQUIRE a phone call to the ordering physician to okay before any treatment can be given.

I've had treatments cancelled, and postponed based on my oncologists' assessment of the pro's and con's of administering a Chemotherapy Infusion on a given date. I've also had both oncologists I've been seen by change the dose or interval in between Infusions.

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Has the oncologist discussed the results with you. What explanation were you given?

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@gardenlady1116

Has the oncologist discussed the results with you. What explanation were you given?

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Just that his platelets are too low to give chemo. We need to wait til they raise. I asked her what can I give him to help raise them? She said nothing. As I've said before......she's not very helpful

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Another question to ask is if there is anything besides the chemo that could cause the low platelets? Also, how long does it take to recover from the chemo effect. Second opinion also a consideration, perhaps a doctor who will be better at communicating what is going on.

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I had a nosebleed this morning, which is one sign of low platelets (thrombocytopenia). I went to Dr. Google and found several sites that address this. There is medication to encourage your body to build more platelets. Additionally, your provider can order a platelet transfusion. There are some dietary things that might help, although I personally wouldn't rely on them to take care of the problem by themselves. You might find something interesting on this site:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322937

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My husband is going through this now. Started after the 10th cycle or so, I think. He has blood checked a few days before next treatment and if below 125 gets a shot of N-plate. They aren’t sure if it helps or not. Sometimes seems to, but often have to come back a couple days later and they are up enough for treatment. His platelets are all over the place now. 400, then 72 within 8 days.
They say no dietary remedy- it’s from the chemo.
If it prevented his chemo for 3 weeks or a month they are switching to Fulforinox but he is still responding to the gemabraxane so riding the platelet problem out as long as we can.

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On the topic of platelets, the chemo brought mine down extremely low, below 10, several times. Nose bleeds, little red spots on your collar bone, and fatigue can be indications but mine was always picked up in the blood test run prior to infusions. I was given platelets at the hospital outpatient area at least 3 times. I was on Folfurinox. I did try dietary remedies but they really only helped to provide a little more energy. The measure of whether chemo was given was always about my neutrophil number. I think the low platelets contributed to bringing it down . My oncologist ordered the platelets but they were administered at a nearby hospital. Not infusion center.

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@howleegirl

Just that his platelets are too low to give chemo. We need to wait til they raise. I asked her what can I give him to help raise them? She said nothing. As I've said before......she's not very helpful

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I know what you mean by a not very helpful oncologist.My platelets have been low also but not so low that I can't get chemo,yet anyway.Going to National cancer inst.in MD for a clinical trial screening in June.Hope to pass and get away from this oncologist.Check around the net for info.I thought about seeing a homepathic Dr.many say that they really helped.

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@gamaryanne

On the topic of platelets, the chemo brought mine down extremely low, below 10, several times. Nose bleeds, little red spots on your collar bone, and fatigue can be indications but mine was always picked up in the blood test run prior to infusions. I was given platelets at the hospital outpatient area at least 3 times. I was on Folfurinox. I did try dietary remedies but they really only helped to provide a little more energy. The measure of whether chemo was given was always about my neutrophil number. I think the low platelets contributed to bringing it down . My oncologist ordered the platelets but they were administered at a nearby hospital. Not infusion center.

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My platelets have dropped recently ,also on Folfurinox.Not too low to stop chemo though.I was wondering if they got too low if they would give me some.I'm going to Md for a clinical trial screening and hope it doesn't affect me getting into the trial.

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Always advocate for yourself. Especially with the trial screening coming.
Time and diet do bring them up, but must balance being off chemo to do that. My situation was too critical to allow that to happen.

Will be interested to hear about your trial screening. Is this at JH?

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