platelets

[Fight11]

Any of you know how to increase the your platelets? My husband’s platelets are pretty low and they won’t give him his second treatment of Lu due to them being low.

[Tall_Allen]

Think of it as an indicator of poor bone marrow function. Artificially increasing platelet count doesn't fix the underlying problem.

[middlejoel in reply to Tall_Allen]

TA, my Platelet score has always been high, last one in Augus was 435. Does this mean that my marrow is in good health?

[Tall_Allen in reply to middlejoel]

Ideally, you want it in the normal range - not too low or too high. But your body can tolerate a range.

[CJ4J]

Same boat here. My husband barely makes the cut off each time. For the last 4 months his platelets are around or below 75. We pray alot about them staying up and also researched what could he eat that would support better platelets and the platelets have remained just enough. Dr.s wanted to know what we are doing and said to keep it up.

Daily I make a smoothie with 2 handfuls of spinach, 1 cup of high vitamin C fruit, a scoop of orgain and 1 cup of almond milk. He also eats other high folate foods. Just Google what can you eat to raise platelets, there is a list. Food can be your medicine too.

[JPOM in reply to CJ4J]

food has always been a pleasure but there are some foods i eat for their healing properties. my list of platelet boosters is short:

FRESH MILK

BROCCOLI

CARROTS

RAISINS

POMEGRANATE

LEAN MEATS

BEANS

GARLIC

[tsim]

Getting enough iron and vitamin C?

[tango65]

Persistent low platelets may be an indication of bone marrow disfunction caused by the cancer. A PSMA PET/CT may show if there is invasion of the bone marrow by the cancer. If it is possible to treat the cancer it may improve the platelet count.

[Fight11 in reply to tango65]

This happened after his first Lu treatment

[tango65 in reply to Fight11]

It is a know complication of Lu 177 PSMA treatment mainly in patients who have bone marrow infiltration by the cancer. If the Lu 177 PSMA treated the cancer in the bone marrow perhaps it will be possible the bone marrow recovers.

Treatment with Ac 225 PSMA which emits alpha particles instead of beta particles (alfa particles travel less distance than beta particles and afect less cells in the normal bone marrow than beta particles), is used in some centers abroad instead of Lu 177 PSMA treatment in patients with diffuse bone marrow infiltration by PC.

I wish you the best of luck!

[Hidden]

I am not sure that I can answer your specific query other than relate some basic information as related to me. First low platelet count has many factors. One is the aging process. How old is your husband? Another factor is the result of radiation therapy and subsequent chemotherapy. In other words treatment affects the immune system and the ability to manufacture platelets, red blood cells, etc. in the bone marrow.

Because of my treatment for advanced prostate cancer, at a maximum, I have had quarterly PSA, Testosterone, and CBC (Complete Blood Count) tests since 2004. I will be 76 in a little over 3 months. Early on the concern was the ability of my bone marrow to produce things like platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. I never dropped below the threshold to stop or delay chemotherapy or receive a platelet infusion. That is risky, but I saw this occasionally happen weekly at the infusion center.

After brachytherapy and IMRT in 2003, I was DX’d as metastatic (bone) and immediately went into a six month chemotherapy with hormone therapy clinical trial in 2004. Quarterly Lupron injections and nine infusions of Taxotere alternated with nine infusions of Adrimyacin with high doses of Prednisone and Vitamin C daily plus a couple of orals known to kill mutant cancer cells.

My treatment was entirely cytotoxic to cause cellular apoptosis. Since this treatment my platelet count hovers around 105; which is considered low. To combat, I take 50mcg of D3 a day and 1.25 mg a week. Heck I live in Texas where there is plenty of sun..... and I take 1000 mcg orally, and 1000 mcg sublingually a day of Methyl B12. Other than these supplements, the sun, and a diet of animal based foods, I know of no other remedy without risk.

I know nothing about 2nd and 3rd line ADT or Pluvicto.

The other numbers in the CBC that are important along with platelet count are: hematocrit, hemoglobin, red and white blood cell counts. There another 10 or so readings from the CBC that your physician can see as well. I would hope that your physician goes over your husbands blood work; particularly if readings are low and offer suggestions on what is taking place and how one can possibly overcome. However, sometimes there is no best answer. As my research professor medical oncologist told me, in 2004, “We found the cure for prostate cancer in 1978. However, the problem then and well as now, is the treatment destroys the body. Therefore treatment is a delicate balance.”

I wish your husband the best in killing the little bastards.

Gourd Dancer

[HopingForTheBest1]

I asked my MO about what can be done to improve my anemia. He recommended Procrit injections. Will discuss at my next appt and treatment on Nov 1.

I discussed with nutritionist at my cancer center. She recommended such foods as spinach, beans, almond milk, Total cereal, beets, oranges, red grapes, carrots, broccoli, green tea, canned tuna, salmon, cranberries, etc. She also recommended having a vitamin panel as part of my upcoming blood work, to identify vitamin deficiencies needing to be addressed.

[Bspouse]

I had my husband stop drinking cranberry juice and switch to pomegranate juice. I read that Cranberries lower platelets. It seemed to help.