Hi my mum had her 6th taxol/carbo chemo on 20th december.

[beckyryan]

she is 78 and has recently been suffering with fainting and generally feeling unsteady. at the last chemo they said she was anaemic and should consider a blood transfusion.. has anyone had these problems and has anyone got any advice? she has done so well but feels like she is never going to recover.. but we are staying positive. a healthy new year to all.

[Hidden]

Hi Becky

I am having a blood transfusion next week and just the other day I was being reassured by a 91 year old that there is nothing to worry about! I have been feeling very tired and listless but the nurses say I will feel so much better after the transfusion. I am only going to have two units. Your mum sounds amazing and elderly people are more prone to anaemia anyway but she has done very well and the transfusion should give her more energy which would then make her happier and positive. It seems that blood transfusions are quite common with people who are on chemo. I hope your mum feels better soon.

Best wishes

Anne

[beckyryan in reply to Hidden]

thank you for your reply Anne. I will see how mum is feeling by the end of this week . we have an appointment to see the oncologist soon so we will have to see what he says. I hope you feel better once you have had your transfusion. Take care Becky

[charlie12]

Hi Becky

I also had 4 units transfused when I was first admitted with a heamagblobin level of 6. As you know it should be between 12 and 14. I felt so much better immediately , so I would highly recommend that your Mum have it. She has been through so much , has had chemo , which I did not have and is 30 years older , so I am so sure that it will help her. The alternatove is oral iron tablets which are horrible to digest and don't work as well or nearly as quickly.How you feel physically has such an impact on how you feel emotionally .

Take care

Much love to you both

Charlie xxx

[beckyryan in reply to charlie12]

thank you for your reply Charlie. We have an appointment with the oncologist soon so i think he will suggest that she should have a transfusion and just hearing that other people have been in a similar situation really helps. Thanks again Becky

[TinaWright]

Hi Becky,

I had these symptoms all the way through my chemo but my blood count was always ok. I didn`t actually faint but was close to it several times. I also spent most of the week after each cycle in bed because the side effects hit me so hard.

I came across several people in the chemo ward with the same problems, who did need blood tranfussions, so it does kind of sound like the norm. One lady I made friends with was so pale when she came in for her transfussion, she looked really poorly. I watched the color come back in her cheeks, half way through her face was pink and she said it was amazing how much better she felt in such a short space of time. Really they should have booked your mum in for a tranfussion straight away, not sent her away to THINK about it. I wouldn`t delay this luvie, there is no point in feeling so poorly if we do have a choice.

Sending her well wishes

Tina xx