Reduction that worries me

[CAGIULIANO]

When I started with Leukeran+ Gazyva my leucocytes were at 121000 and my lymphocytes at 111000.

after the first cicle (1 month ) my leucocytes have dropped to 1260 and my lymphocytes to 1243

I still have to do 5 more cicles , I am feeling worst .

i will visit my dr this week

[AussieNeil Administrator]

I gather you are concerned about why you are facing 5 more cycles when your blood test results show your lymphocyte count is now normal? Remember that the CLL cells in your body are only a portion of your CLL tumour burden and it can take quite a few cycles to eliminate them in your nodes and spleen and more still to clean up your bone marrow...

Neil

[CAGIULIANO in reply to AussieNeil]

Dear Neil

Thank you so much for your reply, I know you are right but I feel worst than before due to increasing anemia and that gets the brain working the wrong way.

Thank you again

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to CAGIULIANO]

Our brains use about 20% of total body energy production - and that requires a lot of oxygen. It's no wonder that we have trouble thinking things through when we are anaemic. I hope this lifts for you soon.

Neil

[CAGIULIANO]

Very true, I will keep trying like always to be positive

it just gets a little tougher when you are over 80

Thank you and best regards

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Cagiuliano, your situation interests me as I may be on the same treatment in the near future. Are you being treated with anything for the anemia? Or does the Dr. say the anemia will improve as the treatments continue?

I know it is difficult dealing with anemia in the best of situations--I have had anemic times off and on since my 20's but the treatment then was pretty simple and it was not so severe as to not respond to the treatments.

I hope in your continued treatments, you begin to feel better.

[CAGIULIANO]

Dear clady01

The treatment is working very well , my only recommendation is to make sure you get properly prepared for the first dose of GAZYVA . I experienced a serious reaction and had to suspend and restart 15 days later.

I have nearly 10 years of w.w and always on the limit for anemia.

Tomorrow I have an appointment with the Dr and will let you know if he recommends me to take anything for the anemia. He has never done before.

All the best

[CAGIULIANO]

Dear clady01

My doctor decided to do nothing for the anemia..

Just to keep doing the treatment as planned

Next cicle jan 31

All the best

[adaconda in reply to CAGIULIANO]

Hi Cagiuliano

I have been through the exact same treatment you are going now and had my last leukeran (oral chemo) on the 9th of Jan. I only had to stop for three weeks because my granular numbers were to low and dangerous to treat. They gave me some shots to boost the numbers and after that I was able to finish my treatments on time. I go for a cat scan on Feb. 6th and return on the 8th to hear the results of my treatment. I'm praying for remission and a long one at that.

You take care and hope the rest of your treatments work out fine. I was diagnosed on Feb. 8th, 2016 and ironically I get my test results on Feb. 8th, 2018. Exactly 2 years to the day.

Michael

[CAGIULIANO in reply to adaconda]

Dear Michael

Thank you so much for your reply, I hope your results are of permanent remission.

I still have 5 more cicles to go, the next on jan 31.

My analyses show my results also very low but my doctor doesn't seem to worry. Lets hope I go through without problems and can finish the treatment

All the best