Chemo Delayed - Low Platelets

I've spent the past couple of weeks doing a lot of nothing, just trying to get some strength back; there hasn't been anything much to write about (which is not a complaint, uneventful is good!) and so no blog entries. I hope you have been enjoying the final few weeks of summer.

Yesterday I should have begun my 7th (and last, at least for now) cycle of carboplatin/gemcitabine chemo. It didn't happen. The blood test showed low platelets. Normal range for this is 150,000-450,000. If you have anything below 100,000 the chemo becomes questionable. Mine was 88,000. When the numbers are about 20,000, you could begin to have serious side effects, so I don't really have any dangerous situation at the moment, it's just that getting more chemo would reduce them further. (And I will refrain from playing with knives this week).

I saw my oncologist. She really wants me to get both doses of the chemo this time, since I've had 2 half cycles due to low blood counts in the past, and this is the last round of it I'll be getting for now. If I got chemo this time,starting out already with low platelets, then the chances of being able to complete the chemo next week would be even more slim. So a decision was made to delay the treatment one week. Instead of doing chemo 8/30 and 9/6, I'm now supposed to do it 9/6 and 9/13. I have a PET/CT scan set for Sept 20th, and my next Onc appoint is Oct 4th, where we discuss the results begin to plot for the next treatment possibilities.

Thank you all for your continued support, prayers, and well wishes. I have been touched by your caring and support more than I can mention here. Know that it is noticed and appreciated.

Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend - the positive in this for me is that the white counts were good so I don't have to be as conservative about being around people! We'll hope to get out of the house a bit also. Take care.

Love,
Susan