Dad Having Tough Time with FCR--Help

June 9, 2011

Hi Everybody:

So my Dad was watch and wait for about 1-1/2 years. Then he

got a bad MRSA infection in his ear... and things seemed to

go downhill. His WBC more than doubled in <than 3 months,

was very anemic, and RBCs very low...so was started on FCR.

1st round--did great. Didn't have any reactions. Was given

a shot of Neuopogen as well after the first tx. WBCs came

down to around 50. Was on prednisone as well.

2nd round--did O.K. A little fatigue a few days later, but

didn't last long. WBCs down again... 15 or 16k, I think.

3rd round--tough. Very fatigued for almost 2 weeks.

Trouble walking. Good news, WBCs at 9-10 k. Anemia gone.

RBCs going up.

Had 4th round 2 weeks ago. Extreme fatigue. Can barely

walk. Also, eosinophils was 20? which could mean something

serious. Bad asthma, trouble breathing, etc. Never had

asthma prior to CLL. Dad (physician) worries that he might

have Churg-Strauss as well now. Facing 5th round next week,

but hasn't recovered yet from 4th round.

Is it normal for it to get this bad? I should add that my

Dad is a physician--and thus, the worst patient on earth.

Knows too much. Took himself off of the prednisone.

Refuses to call the oncologist, etc. He's never been sick

before this in his life. No meds whatsoever. No chronic

illnesses, even though he's in his late 70s.

Is fatigue so bad that people can't walk normal or is there

something else going on? He says he simply has no strength

left in his legs. He lifted weights almost every day for

50+ years--so the lack of strength is very depressing for

him.

Any advice most appreciated. Are these reactions normal for

the chemo? Anybody else deal with eosinophils shooting up

like that?

And if anybody has experience with dealing with stubborn

physician patients--any advice on that front is most

appreciated.

Thanks,

Karla

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