Anemia from TCH?

Options
jap
jap Member Posts: 172
edited June 2014 in HER2+ (Positive) Breast Cancer

Has anyone continued to have some anemia after TCH treatment?  I am eight months out but my red blood counts are still low.  During my infusions I had to have two transfusions.   My red blood counts have improved but now are "stable" but lower than normal.  Will I always be anemic?

Jo Anne

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited July 2009

    Hi JAP

    My RBC's were normal but my WBC's suffered for over a year and are just starting to come back after Herceptin. One thing that many don't consider is that when you are triple positive you are on 2 chemo drugs for longer than a year. I know than many ONC's say Herceptin has no side effects but if you read the package insert it states may affect RBC/WBC (immunity etc).

    Only 20% of BC is Her2 of that 20% only another 20% or so are also ER positive so only a few of us are on Herceptin and Hormone drugs at the same time and that can be hard on your bone marrow, RBC/WBC's as well.

    Make sure you are getting enough protein, are you finished with Herceptin? I think you were dxed within days of me.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited July 2009

    Based on the HERA and BCIRG006 trials, approximately 50% of Her2+ are ER+ and receiving some sort of hormonal therapy.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited July 2009

    Thanks for correcting me, I meant to put 50%, just retyped the 20% from Her2, still a small number that gets the 2 drugs. My Chemo nurses used to say that the HER2 Herceptin gals that were always the one's with those issues and always had to be cleared by ONC after getting blood drawn.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • orange1
    orange1 Member Posts: 930
    edited July 2009

    It think it affected my platelets too.  Shortly after my I shaved my head I put some earings on and my ears started bleeding from the holes - enough to actually drip.  It was the last time I wore earings throughout chemo, even though I would have looked so much better with them on. 

    Since I refused epo, I got pretty anemic.  A year after stopping, I am close to normal.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jaimieh
    Jaimieh Member Posts: 2,373
    edited July 2009

    Jo Anne~ I am 7 weeks 4 days PFC and at my last blood draw I was still low in my RBC.  I had 2 transfusions (both 2 units) one during chemo and one after I was finished with chemo.  I am sure I will find out on the 20th if my counts are still low. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • helena67
    helena67 Member Posts: 357
    edited July 2009

    Jo Anne, I was just complaining about anemia myself on the Stage III board yesterday.

    I am hoping that things will normalize after the Herceptin is completed and I feel less lethargic and fatigued. I hope it's not the AI because I need to continue that one for another 5 years at least!

    Best, Helena.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jap
    jap Member Posts: 172
    edited July 2009

    Hi Helena and others,

    I finished Herceptin the first week in June but still have low HGB levels.  I was wondering if they ever recover.  What does your oncologist say?

    Thanks,

    Jo Anne

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • helena67
    helena67 Member Posts: 357
    edited July 2009

    Hi,

    I mentioned it to the nurse during the previous Herceptin treatment - that I felt fatigued and worn out. But she said that this is very common after all the chemo and radiation. I will ask my Onc specifically about the Hb next time I go there. I think it must be an after effect from all the treatment. I don't know how long it will take to really get better. Hopefully soon because I have small kids and it's a real struggle getting out of bed in the morning and getting going!

    But I think everything can make you tired: the surgeries, the chemo, the radiation, the Herceptin, and hormone treatments, the stress, you name it.

    I will try and exercise more....

    Undecided

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • magentagirl
    magentagirl Member Posts: 101
    edited July 2009

    when I had my last cbc a month ago, I was expecting to have no "flags"for abnormal numbers and I had four. Even though I am 6 months out of chemo. My onc said it can take up to two years to get back to normal. Good Luck!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories