Platelets and Chemo

[stparker54]

Does postponing chemo due to reduced platelets affect how well the chemo treats your cancer?

[Boot1947]

Hi, I can only speak for myself - we are all so different! - but I was stage 3a, had first line chemo postponed three times due to rubbish platelets and have been NED for six years (touch all kinds of woody things!) with a CA125 of 13. It’s just really annoying to have treatment postponed, because it messes with any plans you might have made. I hope everything goes smoothly for you in future. Deb x

[LesleyGB]

Hi! I was diagnosed with stage 3 at the beginning of Covid and my oncogist said that he was happy for me to dalay treatment if I was concerned at possibly catching it. (I went ahead.) I then had to come off chemo before my op which worried me but was told by the Senior CNS that the chemo stays active in the body for between 6 and 8 weeks. It was then a month before I restarted chemo and the blood test still showed a continuing reduction in my CA125.

Hope all goes well for you.

Lesley

X

[ellseybellsey]

I had a two week break and platelet transfusion during chemo, onc said not to worry it will have no impact on my response to treatment.

Ellsey xx

[Katmal-UK]

Hi, delay affect my treatment at all. x

[Broader]

I think it happens quite a bit, twice my treatment was cancelled because of crappy blood results, it’s upsetting and worrying but I still got my CA125 into normal range at the end, so try not to worry too much.

Wishing you well

Christine x

[Ruebacelle]

Docs say yes. [I drank] papaya leaf tea [and] mine [were] in good shape but it doesnt work for everyone. Docs like to keep to the schedule

*Edited by moderators and text replaced with that in square brackets*

[K95m]

After 2 or 3 treatments I took a “chemo holiday” with the permission of my Oncologist to go to a music festival .It is quite common to delay treatment and does no harm at all. After all we have no idea how long we were walking around with this disease ! When I had a recurrence my treatment had to be delayed by one week due to low neuts and platelets. Again all was well. Try not to worry about delays although they may be inconvenient it doesn’t do any harm. Good luck

[stparker54]

This is stparker54. Thank you to everyone for responding. My chemo has had to be postponed 3 times because of low platelets. The 1st time it was delayed 1 week; 2nd time it was delayed 2 weeks; and now, the 3rd time, it's being delayed by a little more than 2 weeks. I am eating all the right foods to boost my platelets. I am even taking papaya leaf extract. Nothing seems to work. I'm frustrated. I go for a blood test on Nov 2. If platelets are okay, I will be able to have chemo on Nov 4. After that, which will be my 4th chemo treatment, I have 2 chemo treatments to go.

[sticky3006]

Hello stparker54, I also had my chemo postponed a couple of times due to low blood counts. I asked for Filgrastin to boost my counts but was refused it. I'm now on Olaparib and have been having iron water (Spatone) which a lady on here recommended. It could be coincidental but my Hb was only 100 last month and this week has gone up to 113. It may be worth you getting some. Its in Boots, Holland & Barrett and on Amazon. Good luck xx

[stparker54 in reply to sticky3006]

Thanks, will look into Spatone.

[Lyndy]

Hello

They don’t tend to tell you this but almost everyone experiences delays to chemo for one reason or another. It used to worry me but my new oncologist says that if your platelets are down it means the chemo is still affecting you and still killing your cancer! Don’t stress... take it as a well earned break to get yourself ready for the next one xx

[stparker54]

Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better.

[Realistic]

Well not from my experience it happened to me 3 times when l was having my chemo, just delayed my chemo by a week. So try not to worry it happens a lot l believe. Good luck with your next session. Take care & love &hugs. Xx SheilaF

[stparker54 in reply to Realistic]

Thanks. Your words mean so much to me stparker54.

[Realistic in reply to stparker54]

I know what you mean, everything a worry when you don't know its very common. So this site is brilliant for discussing things it really gives me hope . And so many wonderful brave women going through it with us. Because no one actually knows till you've been through it. This time last year l felt dreadful after all my chemo. 12 months on a lot more positive thanks to this group giving me the inspiration to carry on. And believe me l didnt have a hair on my body this time last year. And now l have a full head of curls not sure if l will keep the curls its a different colour but hey its hair so l feel so much better in myself. So keep being positive there is light at the end of the tunnel. Which l couldn't see this time last year. Being told no cure and my cancer was aggressive, in a much better place and fighting this. Love to you all your kindness and love means so much. Were all in this together. Stay safe & positive xxxx SheilaF