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TSund · 08-03-2007, 06:39 PM

I neglected to provide full info. Ruth is receiving 6 TCH; so two more to go. Another factor is that she is to have surgery 3 weeks after #6 (neo-adjuvant chemo). At any rate, Ruth decided to have the shot as the nurse in chemo held it in her hand and told her she wasn't aware of any side effects or studies (ugha) and if going low will just go lower. (tho I wonder if this always has to be true as we have beat the WBC odds so far). Ruth is MUCH more hesitant than I to question treatment and she was nervous about me making a stink. (plus we would have had to LEAVE chemo, go 3 floors up, interrupt doc or nurse, made a general pain of ourselves...

I HATE what happened today. If I have my way Ruth will NOT see onc w/o full info of the day at hand. Because we thought blood counts were going to be OK, we did not have the full conversation with onc about boosters, ramifications, minimum levels, justifications, etc. ONly informed by the nurse AFTER the appt that onc decided on aranesp based on today's blood work. (which took a bloody long time (no pun intended) to arrive - after the onc saw us unfortunately. Ruths rbc was at 11.3 and her hemocrit (sp?) at 34. Chemo nurse said most oncs treat at less than 11.5 or 36%.

While it may be the best thing given the upcoming surgery and two more treatments, I was so frustrated I wanted to scream. There are so many questions I would have asked if I had seen this coming. I id ask the onc's nurse about the study indicating not good for tumors, and she said "doesn't apply if rbc's already low" I question that statement, or at least the assumption, but I'm sure my credentials would be laughed at in the medical world....

At any rate, that's the stats. I'll keep you posted as to the outcome. It was so hard for me...I had to bite my tng just about through. Ruth knew I was upset and that is not good for her, so I finally had to just let go. (well, sort of....as is evident by my rant here)

The good news, Ruth's WBC was up again. They are fairly amazed at that one. IT's been recovering well ever since the reishi and astralagus regime. We were worried a week ago at 3.1 but it had doubled by today, and onc said even 3.1 was very good in the middle of chemo. I only wish there was something that proved as effective for the RBC.

Live and learn...

Terri

08-03-2007, 06:39 PM	#25
TSund Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: DFW area (TX) Posts: 431	arrrgh!!! (and more info) I neglected to provide full info. Ruth is receiving 6 TCH; so two more to go. Another factor is that she is to have surgery 3 weeks after #6 (neo-adjuvant chemo). At any rate, Ruth decided to have the shot as the nurse in chemo held it in her hand and told her she wasn't aware of any side effects or studies (ugha) and if going low will just go lower. (tho I wonder if this always has to be true as we have beat the WBC odds so far). Ruth is MUCH more hesitant than I to question treatment and she was nervous about me making a stink. (plus we would have had to LEAVE chemo, go 3 floors up, interrupt doc or nurse, made a general pain of ourselves... I HATE what happened today. If I have my way Ruth will NOT see onc w/o full info of the day at hand. Because we thought blood counts were going to be OK, we did not have the full conversation with onc about boosters, ramifications, minimum levels, justifications, etc. ONly informed by the nurse AFTER the appt that onc decided on aranesp based on today's blood work. (which took a bloody long time (no pun intended) to arrive - after the onc saw us unfortunately. Ruths rbc was at 11.3 and her hemocrit (sp?) at 34. Chemo nurse said most oncs treat at less than 11.5 or 36%. While it may be the best thing given the upcoming surgery and two more treatments, I was so frustrated I wanted to scream. There are so many questions I would have asked if I had seen this coming. I id ask the onc's nurse about the study indicating not good for tumors, and she said "doesn't apply if rbc's already low" I question that statement, or at least the assumption, but I'm sure my credentials would be laughed at in the medical world.... At any rate, that's the stats. I'll keep you posted as to the outcome. It was so hard for me...I had to bite my tng just about through. Ruth knew I was upset and that is not good for her, so I finally had to just let go. (well, sort of....as is evident by my rant here) The good news, Ruth's WBC was up again. They are fairly amazed at that one. IT's been recovering well ever since the reishi and astralagus regime. We were worried a week ago at 3.1 but it had doubled by today, and onc said even 3.1 was very good in the middle of chemo. I only wish there was something that proved as effective for the RBC. Live and learn... Terri __________________ Terri, spouse of Ruth, Dallas/Ft. Worth area Ruth dx 05/01/07 (age 50) Filipino multifocal, several tumors .5 -2.5 cm, large area Breast MRI showed 2 enlarged nodes, not palpable 100%ER+, 95%PR+, HER2+++ 6x pre-surgery TCH chemo finished 9/15/7 Dramatic tumor shrinkage 1 year Herceptin till 6/08 MRM 10/11/07, SNB: 0/4 nodes + Path: tumors reduced to only a few "scattered cells" now 50% ER+, PR- ??? Rads finished 1/16/08 Added Tamoxifen, Finished Herceptin 05/08 NOW is the time to appreciate life to the fullest.