Tamoxifen and low platelets

Had the same thing going here, too, along with mild neutropenia. Just had another CBC, and my platelets are up to 155k; my ANC is still a little low, but my absolute leukocytes are on the upswing, too. Still waiting on smear results (that sounds so ominous), but I've made a conscious decision not to worry about this anymore.

Tamoxifen and Herceptin (only one infusion to go--we had to hold my last one--how anticlimactic is THAT?) can both do this, and carboplatin can cause wacky counts for up to two years, so all things considered my guess is that we're gonna be okay.

nancy - pseudo-thrombocytopenia means that your platelets are normal and the issue is that they are clumping in your blood sample and giving a "false" low platelet count. This is a testing anomaly, not a physical one - that is why your MO referred to you as a "clumper" and let you know that your count is normal.

my Onc just had me overnight in hospital due to platelets dropping to 6000. Had a transfusion and they climbed to 25000. They immediately took me off of tamoxifen and put me on high dose steroid for 4 days. I had only been on for six weeks! They have only seen it twice, but it does happen. Today I am up to 46000 and will have daily blood draws until it gets into normal range.

so glad it worked! Still taking it? Do you recall what brand you ordered? I just looked on Amazon.com and quite a few options. I also checked a few stores, but they only carry papaya enzymes. Wonder if it works the same. Did you ever try the tea?

So glad I'm not the only one with low platelets. Thanks!

Do you have to continue to take the papaya extract or did u stop

Thank you all for sharing your experiences with Tamoxifen. I'm  three years into it and over the last year I started having nose bleeds, a lot more bruising and noticed when I'd nick myself shaving it would take forever for the bleeding to stop. I had a blood test via employer's health fair and platelets came back at 91. Subsequent tests have put me at 99 and just recently at 114; however, recent Gyno appt. showed blood in urine without an infection. My primary and oncologist mention the low counts but no one seems to be overly concerned just yet. It sounds like my levels are lower than some others who have had even more tests run so based on the feedback I'm going to reach back out to the oncologist.  Thanks again, everyone, for sharing. The info. is very helpful....and I don't feel alone.

I quit tamoxifen earlier this year after being on it 4 years. About a year ago, a blood test showed my blood platelets were down significantly. A follow up test about 2 months later showed they were down even further. My oncologist then sent me for additional blood tests, including platelets, and that test showed my numbers all back to normal. Platelets have been normal since. My oncologist had no explanation, which is typical. I asked if it was the tamoxifen & she said I suppose it could be, but not common. All the best to you. Keep us posted.

All this info is very helpful in educating me in my discussions with my doctors.  I will definitely share any updates.