This group has been very helpful to me during my pc journey. I just finished up 28 rounds of radiation and am currently taking Xtandi and Lupron injections monthly. My latest bloodwork show slightly high MCH and MCHC values and slightly low RBC. I searched on line but could not find any correlation with the radiation or drugs. I also received a steroid shot in my back three weeks ago so maybe that figures in also. Prior bloodwork last month had all these values in normal range.
Does anyone have any insight into this?
Thanks for your replies.
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Jeffdanger
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These exact blood issues always get highlighted in my blood tests also. Are you taking your vitamin D tablets regularly? Have you ever had your folic acid levels tested? I cut down hugely on my alcohol consumption and found that my mch/much levels returned to normal.
Yes on the D, it’s in the calcium tablets I was told to take plus I take some extra. No on the folic acid but I do drink 2 glasses of wine nightly and had my bloodwork done two days after a 12 day vacation that included plenty of cerveza!
Like you, I used to drink wine every night. But I found that my bilirubin levels were always raised and it seemed to give me terrible hangovers because of all the other medication I was on. I cut out the wine and just drink beer now. I'm trying to cut down on that too. My mch/c levels seemed to respond very quickly when the wine was omitted. I know it's difficult because we need our treats. I was on some very strong painkillers in December and January so I wasn't able to drink wine. Somehow, I've managed to continue not to drink it.
Slightly high MCH can be associated with B12/ folic deficiency, thyroid issues, or ADT-induced NAFLD (I had the latter coming off 18-mos ADT).
Although underlying mechanisms of increased baPWV were not investigated, some biological mechanisms may help explain the association between borderline-high MCV and arterial stiffness. First, increased MCV reflects folate and vitamin B12 deficiencies, which can lead to high homocysteine level, a cardiovascular risk factor. Folate and vitamin B12 play an important role in regulating the conversion of homocysteine. Homocysteine concentrations are strongly negatively correlated with folate and vitamin B12 levels [16,17]. Homocysteine induces proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the artery, resulting in impaired vascular endothelial function and blood coagulability. High homocysteine level is thought to contribute to atherosclerosis and increased thickness and blood vessel stiffness [10]. Accordingly, lack of folate and vitamin B12 induces elevated MCV and homocysteine levels, resulting in elevated arterial stiffness. Second, elevated MCV is an indicator of liver function deterioration, which might be closely related to CVD development. Macrocytosis is commonly found in various liver diseases. In individuals with liver disease, the membrane lipid composition changes, affecting the membrane surface area, leading to increased MCV. This mechanism depends on the pathogenesis and severity of liver disease [2]. Moreover, elevated serum γ-glutamyltransferase level is strongly associated with increased oxidative stress [18,19]. Increased oxidative stress induced by decreased liver function is positively correlated with CVD development [20]. Thus, decreased liver function seems to manifest in elevated MCV as well as arterial stiffness. Finally, elevated MCV implies thyroid dysfunction, which could also be associated with arterial stiffness. Thyroid hormone is involved in the regulation of hemoglobin synthesis. MCV values were significantly increased in both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism [21]. Moreover, hypothyroidism led to increased vascular resistance and arterial wall thickness, which could be attributed to lipid abnormalities, homocysteine levels, and abnormal coagulability [22]. Therefore, elevated MCV and arterial stiffness might be caused by thyroid dysfunction. Therefore, our findings indicate borderline-high MCV may be accompanied by several unfavorable metabolic alterations, which can be implicated in increased arterial stiffness.
So I saw my urologist today and he wasn’t at all concerned with the numbers. I’ll see what my MO says when I see him tomorrow. Also saw ortho Dr. today and he said steroid shot could raise glucose levels but mine was the lowest it has been in years at 70.
Radiation will decrease red blood count somewhat. I would not worry about it unless it drops significantly. You will probably recover in a couple of months without doind anything.
The drugs you are taking should definitely lower your RBC……….likely also lowers your energy. Not positive about radiation but that could also lower your energy level.
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