Re: Low counts, ProCrit, and Dosage

[Guest guest]

At 03:42 AM 3/19/05 +0000, you wrote:

>Thanks for all of the responses to my Hello post. I had a CBC today

>and my counts were further surpressed. WBC at 1.9, Hemoglobin 8.8

>and Gran at .9. So my Fl. onc decided to take me off arnesp and but

>me back on ProCrit. Then tonight the sharp pain I have occasionally

>gotten in my stomach returned and then I read about the possiblity of

>ulcers and the comments about lowering the Gleevec dose. So I think

>I will call my onc on Monday and fess up to the stomach pain and see

>if he thinks I might have an ulcer. In any case, something has to

>give.

Hi Kathie,

It does sound like you need a GI work-up to rule out a bleed or deal with

one if found. I could not function with a hgb of 8.8....I will tell you

that. The

only time mine was that low was when I was on inf and ara-c.....and I passed

out in my kitchen one night and woke up on the floor. I was immediately put

on Procrit and also got a unit of red cells (my only transfusion to date). For

me, anything under 10 makes me feel like I am dragging a bit but with Procrit

I keep in the normal range. Procrit does not work for everyone...I don't know

about the other drug.

Hey......order out or get a big, yummy pizza and enjoy your family....esp.

those

grandkids. Moms don't have to do all the cooking you know!

Maui Nanc

[Guest guest]

Hello...my post transplant HGB has been hovering at about 9.7. I

can function, but I am much happier at 12 or so.

Before all this transplant stuff happened, I had tried a clinical

trial of Gleevec and Zarnestra combined. This was short lived as it

did not work, but it did take my HGB down to around 8.7.

My onc gave me a shot at a newer drug called Aranesp, which works

like Procrit but with a time release effect. I have this injection

4 times in the past 3 years and a single injection had worked

perfectly to get the HGB back up. It worked much better than Procrit

for me.

Here is a fact sheet I located on Aranesp:

Fact Sheet

Aranesp (darepoiten alfa)

Aranesp (also known as NESP) is the trademark name for the novel

erythropoiesis stimulating protein, darbepoiten alfa. This protein

stimulates red blood cell (RBC) production by the same mechanism as

human erythropoietin (EPO). An increase in RBCs improves the amount

of oxygen the blood can carry to the body's muscles. It may also

increase the body's capacity to buffer lactic acid. Aranesp has

legitimate clinical use in the treatment of anaemia in patients with

diseases such as kidney disease, HIV and some cancers.

Aranesp has a three fold longer half-life in the blood than EPO.

This does not mean it is more powerful, but rather it stays in the

blood longer. Athletes may feel that this is an advantage over EPO,

as they would need to inject less frequently and at a lesser

quantity. However staying in the blood longer also gives greater

opportunity for the substance to be detected.

Side Effects

Aranesp has similar side effects to EPO use. This includes causing

the blood to thicken excessively. The heart has to work harder to

pump the thicker blood and the blood is more prone to clot. Aranesp

could increase the risk of heart attack, stroke and clots in the

lung. This risk is exacerbated by dehydration, which often occurs

during endurance exercise.

Status in sport

Aranesp is prohibited both in competition and out of competition as

a method of enhancement of oxygen transfer under World Anti-Doping

Code 2005 Prohibited List (effective 1/1/05).

>

> Dear Friends,

>

> Thanks for all of the responses to my Hello post. I had a CBC

today

> and my counts were further surpressed. WBC at 1.9, Hemoglobin 8.8

> and Gran at .9. So my Fl. onc decided to take me off arnesp and

but

> me back on ProCrit. Then tonight the sharp pain I have

occasionally

> gotten in my stomach returned and then I read about the possiblity

of

> ulcers and the comments about lowering the Gleevec dose. So I

think

> I will call my onc on Monday and fess up to the stomach pain and

see

> if he thinks I might have an ulcer. In any case, something has to

> give.

>

> And I just get so mad. I do fine with a Hemo of 9.5 or so, but

when

> it gets this low I just feel like I am moving through jello.

Today I

> had to cancel a family dinner I was looking forward to cooking

> because I just didn't have the energy to shop and then cook. We

are

> in the midst of having our kids visit. Our daughter and her

husband

> are here now, and our son, daughter-in-law and three grands are

> scheduled week after next. At the moment I can't really fathom I

> will get through that week (twins who are a year and a three year

> old! And it just makes me so mad.

>

> Excuse the pity party, I've been having it all day. I promise to

get

> off soon and to return to my usual up beat self. I really just

> wanted to say that I really appreciate the help. Once again you

all

> have given me things to think about.

>

> Cheers,

> Kathie in Kentucky (Florida)

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathe,

I'm the person who wrote about the possibility of stomach bleeds. I'm sorry you

have the pain but so glad you're going to talk to your onc on Monday about it.

If you are, indeed, bleeding then it's very important to locate the bleed (or

ulcers) and treat them.

Sorry you had to miss a celebration. And, we all have pity parties sometimes.

Be well.

L

[ ] Low counts, ProCrit, and Dosage

Dear Friends,

Thanks for all of the responses to my Hello post. I had a CBC today

and my counts were further surpressed. WBC at 1.9, Hemoglobin 8.8

and Gran at .9. So my Fl. onc decided to take me off arnesp and but

me back on ProCrit. Then tonight the sharp pain I have occasionally

gotten in my stomach returned and then I read about the possiblity of

ulcers and the comments about lowering the Gleevec dose. So I think

I will call my onc on Monday and fess up to the stomach pain and see

if he thinks I might have an ulcer. In any case, something has to

give.

And I just get so mad. I do fine with a Hemo of 9.5 or so, but when

it gets this low I just feel like I am moving through jello. Today I

had to cancel a family dinner I was looking forward to cooking

because I just didn't have the energy to shop and then cook. We are

in the midst of having our kids visit. Our daughter and her husband

are here now, and our son, daughter-in-law and three grands are

scheduled week after next. At the moment I can't really fathom I

will get through that week (twins who are a year and a three year

old! And it just makes me so mad.

Excuse the pity party, I've been having it all day. I promise to get

off soon and to return to my usual up beat self. I really just

wanted to say that I really appreciate the help. Once again you all

have given me things to think about.

Cheers,

Kathie in Kentucky (Florida)