Low Red Blood Count - Still

[Joann]

Has anyone had this problem persist? I finished my heavy Chemo in January 07, Radiation in March 07, and Herceptin in December 07.

Every 3 weeks with the Herceptin, they gave me Procriat to increase my red count. On the last visit, the doctor told me to come back in 3 months, as my count was dropping every 3 weeks.

Start or Baseline - 11.00 - low already but I am anemic and have been since I was 12.

<o></o>Last Herceptin Treatment – 9.8 and they were worried
<o></o>Friday 9.3 and now they want to start all the testing. I just don’t think I have it in me yet.
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So has anyone else had this problem?
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Did you allow them to start the Bone Marrow and other tests?
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Is there a simple food/exercise routine I can try?
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I am an accountant, it’s the middle of tax season and I know that I am not eating right or sleeping enough – I am trying now – I just can’t go through anymore tests.
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Thanks for any advise.
<o></o>Joann

[Bill]

Hi Joanne, have you tried iron-rich foods, such as spinach, collards,arugula, most greens, Swiss chard, kale, bok choy, orange bell peppers, peanuts (dryroasted) , pumpkin seeds, I think, too. If you're not already taking an Iron supplement, check with your onc. to see if you can or should be. Eat a handful of walnuts and almonds 4 or 5 times a week for additional benefits. Most peanuts and nuts, I think, are rich in B vitamins, which can aid in stress relief. Also, this time of year you are probably drinking too much coffee or diet Coke. Cut back a little and try a hot cup of green tea with a dollop of buckwheat honey, if you need the sweetness. I used to be friends with an accountant, and he was a wreck this time every year. Set aside a certain time each day when you just be you, and get away from the paperwork, lose the cell-phone and pager, and just pray, meditate, chill out or whatever. Get a small fish-tank for your office, or wherever you work, or maybe a parakeet. I love my parakeet, we whistle back and forth while I'm doing dishes or cooking. I hope I didn't ramble on too much. Love, Bill

[madubois63]

Joann - I was afraid to read your post, but since you mentioned the bone marrow, I had to answer. After a year and a half of chemo for my second bout with bc, my counts continued to drop. I woke up one morning with a 7 1/2 hour nose bleed - no typo there. My onc ended up putting me in the hospital for blood and platelet transfusions. The biopsy was done and unfortunately, the chemo induced acute myeloid leukemia in me. THIS DOES NOT MEAN IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU, but I really didn't know what to expect and I wish someone had told me.

I do not understand why your doctor would wait 3 months to see you. At this point, you should be getting a blood test weekly to make sure you don't need blood transfusions.

Eating right and sleeping is very important at this point!! It can keep you from getting sick. Your immune system is not so great right now and you REALLY need to take care!!

Please get the test done as soon as possible. I know the tests can get to you after a while, but best to know what you are dealing with. There ARE other things not as serious as what I went through...

[Joann]

Thank you both - believe it or not my iron is fine. But I should think about the green tea. I started Friday trying a protein enriched diet but I am not sure what proteins to eat. Thanks for the tips.

Did you feel sick before the nose bleed? Do you know what your counts were?

Joann