Herceptin and Hemoglobin

[Rupali]

Has anyone had hemoglobin levels going down while on Herceptin.
I am on a 3 weekly Herceptin and my hemoglobin levels have slipped from 11.8 to 10.2 to 9.8

[*_Julie_*]

I have the same affect of Herceptin white blood cells seems to be fine but red blood cells are always below normal. Are you on any chemo right now?

Julie

[Becky]

I do not have that problem with hemoglobin. My WBC has dropped but is still within the normal range (the low end and it used to be slightly above the middle of the normal range). My red cell count is steady and hemoglobin is high (13). I am only on Herceptin - no chemo.

Best regards,

Becky

[*_Barbara_*]

Rupali:

I have been on Hereptin for fourteen months and my Hemoglobin has dropped below 12 occassionally. I try to eat foods high in iron to compensate. Before chemo and Herceptin my Hemoglobin was around 13.8. My WBC has never been normal when on Herceptin: it ranges from 3.3 to 4.7 and normal is five to 10 and before chemo it was 7.1. Have you read the RX prescribing sheet for Herceptin? It states that 4% of patients have anemia (low red cells) and 3% leukopenia.

[Gina]

count me in the yea group for low red blood counts...not that low, but whenever I have gone off herceptin in the past, they would go right back up, so I think there is something going on here. It may be that to build the immune response necessary to clean up the tumor / lesion debris targeted by the Herceptin that red cells have to be sacrificed to make more white/immune fighting ones...just a guess, though, I don't have the data to support that. I also find grape juice, raisins, spinach, and liver help keep the reds built up...smile...Take care all, Gina

[Rupali]

Thanks for al the responses. I am still waiting for the Ferritin results. It will come today.
Also I moved to a VEGAN diet after I was diagnosed with Breast cancer in November last year. I am visiting a nutriotinist today at DFCI, Boston to see what they can advice.
I have a wheatgrass juocer and I started juicing a combination of spinach, carrot and lemon from yesterday. Need to get approval from the nutritionist about it.
Have anyone of you also made dietary changes or agree with the concept of dietary changes.
I think Hercepting might be partly the cause of anemia and also my diet changes might have contributed.....

[StephN]

No problem for me with either white or red count levels.
I have been on Herceptin 3-weekly for over 3 years now.

The last full blood panel on July 11 shows:
WBC - 6.49
RBC - 4.51
Hemoglobin - 13.3
Hematocrit - 40% (out of 45% for the high end)

I have a good diet of fresh organic fruits and vegetables. I also eat a lot of wild salmon and some red meat that is grass fed.

I use almost no caffeine or foods high in processed sugar.

I do not overeat, but get a variety of foods each day.

[Rupali]

Thanks for your blood panel numbers.
My iron results came out ok, so it is not iron deficiency anemia. Waiting for the doctor to call as to what more test they want to do.
My MUGA scan went down this time. It is at 45% dropped from 54% 3 months back.
I am waiting for my doc to call to see what they have to say. Has anyone had these symptoms.
I am now thinking to get back to normal eating with adding meat again to my diet. I will start with Wild Salmon and see if that can help me to regain my blood numbers.
I was having Herceptin with radiation so I am thinking that might have impacted my numbers and MUGA.

[StephN]

You can eat things like lentils, which are high in iron. The nutritionist should be able to give you a list of foods to concentrate on.