Dealth Risk Found from Anemia Drugs

[Becky]

I have a normally low rbc - just below the lowest number in the normal range. Naturally on chemo it further plunged. During my second cycle of AC I got the last menstrual period I would have until 7 months after chemo ended. Needless to say, I went out with a bang. I heavily bled for 3 weeks (I had to change my pad every hour or there was a big problem. I had to protect the bed during the night and wear underwear for urine leakage for extra protection). After 3 weeks and a third AC, my rbc was horrible. However, I did my own research at the time and refused Procrit (my onc's drug choice). I wasn't bad enough for a transfusion and by the time the 4th AC rolled around I wasn't bleeding anymore (even though I spotted for 1 week after the heavy bleeding ended). I'm sure glad I found all the earlier studies on this. I also know the wbc boosters aren't much better but I took Leukine (instead of Neulasta) which at least also boost the monocytes, lymphocytes and most importantly, the dendrites so it at least gives you more than just neutrophils as Neulasta does.

The body likes to be in its own perfect balance and affecting one thing can affect so many other things. I suppose if one is seriously ill and in a potentially life threatening situation, one must consider all options but if one is on the edge (as I was), it might be best to use a wait and see as I did and proceed if absolutely necessary.

[ElaineM]

Thank goodness I always refused those drugs. My doc "gets it" but the nurses keep pushing the stuff. I always refuse.