Guest guest Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 Has EPO therapy been considered and tried? This may be what is needed. Louis. . . . To: ProstateCancerSupport Sent: Tue, June 8, 2010 4:06:52 PMSubject: Low Blood Counts I am new to the group. My husband has advanced metastatic prostate cancer and after 2 years of chemo and radiation, his blood counts have dropped and won't come up again. He has had numerous blood transfusions over the past several weeks but they aren't working.Now the doctors are telling us he is stuck. He can't have any more chemo unless the blood counts come up.Does anyone have any experience like this? Is there anything we can do to bring up the blood counts.Thank you in advance for your help, PJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2010 Report Share Posted June 8, 2010 pjruger wrote: > I am new to the group. My husband has advanced metastatic > prostate cancer and after 2 years of chemo and radiation, his > blood counts have dropped and won't come up again. He has had > numerous blood transfusions over the past several weeks but > they aren't working. > > Now the doctors are telling us he is stuck. He can't have any > more chemo unless the blood counts come up. > > Does anyone have any experience like this? Is there anything > we can do to bring up the blood counts. PJ, I'm very sorry to hear about your husband's condition. I'm not a doctor or an expert of any kind, but I have heard that this is a common effect of chemotherapy. One of the problems with chemotherapy is that it doesn't just attack cancer cells. It attacks all cells that are dividing. Frequent cell division is a common and dangerous characteristic of cancer cells, which is why chemo can attack the cancer and, sometimes, extend life. But other cells also divide. Nausea and vomiting is a common side effect because the cells of the stomach lining are rapidly dividing, and hair loss is common for a similar reason. Unfortunately, red blood cells are constantly renewed by cell division, and the cells that produce the red blood cells can be damaged by chemo. If that happens, the patient can die of it well before the cancer has a chance to kill him, so the oncologist monitors red blood cell counts closely and if and when the count drops too low he halts chemotherapy. A prostate cancer patient in another newsgroup was being treated by a very advanced team of doctors at s Hopkins University, a world renowned cancer center, but the same thing happened to him a couple of weeks ago. The doctors stopped his chemotherapy treatment and told him they were now out of options. At this point, I think it is conceivable that the recently approved Provenge could help a little, or one of the experimental therapies available in clinical trials like Abiraterone or Alpharadin. But they may not help at all and I would think they are unlikely to help for more than a while. Your husband has reached a critical stage. You should ask the oncologist about Provenge and about the trials drugs. He will know more than I do. He might think they're worth trying but he might also think your husband would be putting himself through more treatment, and possibly travel to another city (depending on what's available where you live), for little or no benefit. I think you should also investigate hospice care. As the cancer progresses it can become extremely painful and it can become very difficult for you to care for your husband at home. He may eventually become bedridden, unable to eat, unable to walk to the bathroom, and in serious pain. He may cope effectively for some time and then wake up one night or one morning in terrible pain. A threshold can be crossed in a single night. A good hospice can handle those problems and make him comfortable. They can care for his special needs and give him the right drugs to ease the pain. He may not need to go to hospice yet, but when he does need to go, it will be useful to already know about a good place that will accept him and where you want to take him. You should also get your financial affairs in order. It may be wise to be sure that any assets that are only in your husband's name are put in joint ownership or otherwise properly secured - something that is easy to do when your husband is alive and able to sign legal papers but can be more complicated and difficult after he is gone. A good and trustworthy lawyer who is experienced in these issues can advise you, if you haven't already consulted one. I would like to believe that, when my time comes, I will make time to be with family and friends. I would like to be with my wife. I would like to record messages, either in writing or maybe on tape or video, for my children and grandchildren. I would like to tell my children and grandchildren about my parents and grandparents, whom they never really knew. I would like to take out the old family photos and be sure that someone knows who the people in the pictures are and what they were like. There are also things I would like to do for myself - maybe come music I'd like to hear again, see some old films that I loved, enjoy a few evenings with old friends, maybe visit some places I'd like to see. When my time becomes short, I would like to spend it wisely and well - not in panic and depression but in review and appreciation of the good things of my life and in doing what I can for my family. I would like to face my end with as much acceptance and grace as I can. Perhaps your husband would also like to see things that way. This is a very difficult time of life. I sympathize very much with you and your husband. I wish you both the very best. Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Hi: We've never heard of EPO therapy but I am going to go google it right now and we have a doctor's appointment in the morning so I will mention it to him. Thank you very much!!! We appreciate your response. PJ > > Has EPO therapy been considered and tried? This may be what is needed. > > Louis. . . . > > > ________________________________ > > To: ProstateCancerSupport > Sent: Tue, June 8, 2010 4:06:52 PM > Subject: Low Blood Counts > > Â > I am new to the group. My husband has advanced metastatic prostate cancer and after 2 years of chemo and radiation, his blood counts have dropped and won't come up again. He has had numerous blood transfusions over the past several weeks but they aren't working. > > Now the doctors are telling us he is stuck. He can't have any more chemo unless the blood counts come up. > > Does anyone have any experience like this? Is there anything we can do to bring up the blood counts. > > Thank you in advance for your help, PJ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Hi: We've never heard of EPO therapy but I am going to go google it right now and we have a doctor's appointment in the morning so I will mention it to him. Thank you very much!!! We appreciate your response. PJ > > Has EPO therapy been considered and tried? This may be what is needed. > > Louis. . . . > > > ________________________________ > > To: ProstateCancerSupport > Sent: Tue, June 8, 2010 4:06:52 PM > Subject: Low Blood Counts > > Â > I am new to the group. My husband has advanced metastatic prostate cancer and after 2 years of chemo and radiation, his blood counts have dropped and won't come up again. He has had numerous blood transfusions over the past several weeks but they aren't working. > > Now the doctors are telling us he is stuck. He can't have any more chemo unless the blood counts come up. > > Does anyone have any experience like this? Is there anything we can do to bring up the blood counts. > > Thank you in advance for your help, PJ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Dear friend : My husband had the same case,we discovered it suddenly ,in january 2004 ,,his PSA WAS 670 YES THATS TRUE IT WAS 670.....WITH bone metastasis ,,when he goes to the doctor saying that he has bone pains ,doctors give him medicines for osteoarthritis,,,,!!!!!!!,,till it became 670 ,,,,,when i ask the doctor that perhaps he has cancer and metastasis,,,the doctor say no and that he is OK !!!!!!!!!!,,,,I'm a pediatretion,, so i took my husband to one of my colleagues ,and he agreed with me that perhaps he has cancer and asked for the PSA AND BONE SCAN.Treatment with irradiation [ shoulders,vertebral column,sacral region,,pelvic region},,,he had severe hemorrhage from the intestines ,,,blood transfusiondid not help,,,his hemoglobin was 7,,,if he moves one step he had palpitation,,from the weakness,,,I asked the doctor if we can give him Epeotin alpha injections,,the answer was that his bone marrow was affected with the irradiation,,and it is not working any more,,,,I bought the injections and give it to him by myself ,,10,000 unit every other day 10 injections HIS hemoglobin increased gradually ,,,till 12,,,,and intravenous iron injections,,,when his hemoglobin was 10 ,,he was feeling very good and go for a walk and we even travelled to USA to visit our daughter.... IN 2004 doctors said he has 6 month to live,,,HE LIVED 6 YEARS,,,,HE died from sudden aggressive generalized spread of metastasis to the liver, His PSA was only 6 ,,,he was just finishing his 3rd chemotherapy treatment,,,and was in a very good health and preparing ourselves to visit our daughter once more,,,BUT that happened very quickly ,,,he lived only a month after this generalized liver metastasis,, I used to give him chemotherapy weekly the 1/3 dose every time ,,and he was supporting it very good ,,,especially with the premedication,,,, My best wishes to you and your husband. > > Has EPO therapy been considered and tried? This may be what is needed. > > Louis. . . . > > > ________________________________ > > To: ProstateCancerSupport > Sent: Tue, June 8, 2010 4:06:52 PM > Subject: Low Blood Counts > > Â > I am new to the group. My husband has advanced metastatic prostate cancer and after 2 years of chemo and radiation, his blood counts have dropped and won't come up again. He has had numerous blood transfusions over the past several weeks but they aren't working. > > Now the doctors are telling us he is stuck. He can't have any more chemo unless the blood counts come up. > > Does anyone have any experience like this? Is there anything we can do to bring up the blood counts. > > Thank you in advance for your help, PJ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 Dear friend : My husband had the same case,we discovered it suddenly ,in january 2004 ,,his PSA WAS 670 YES THATS TRUE IT WAS 670.....WITH bone metastasis ,,when he goes to the doctor saying that he has bone pains ,doctors give him medicines for osteoarthritis,,,,!!!!!!!,,till it became 670 ,,,,,when i ask the doctor that perhaps he has cancer and metastasis,,,the doctor say no and that he is OK !!!!!!!!!!,,,,I'm a pediatretion,, so i took my husband to one of my colleagues ,and he agreed with me that perhaps he has cancer and asked for the PSA AND BONE SCAN.Treatment with irradiation [ shoulders,vertebral column,sacral region,,pelvic region},,,he had severe hemorrhage from the intestines ,,,blood transfusiondid not help,,,his hemoglobin was 7,,,if he moves one step he had palpitation,,from the weakness,,,I asked the doctor if we can give him Epeotin alpha injections,,the answer was that his bone marrow was affected with the irradiation,,and it is not working any more,,,,I bought the injections and give it to him by myself ,,10,000 unit every other day 10 injections HIS hemoglobin increased gradually ,,,till 12,,,,and intravenous iron injections,,,when his hemoglobin was 10 ,,he was feeling very good and go for a walk and we even travelled to USA to visit our daughter.... IN 2004 doctors said he has 6 month to live,,,HE LIVED 6 YEARS,,,,HE died from sudden aggressive generalized spread of metastasis to the liver, His PSA was only 6 ,,,he was just finishing his 3rd chemotherapy treatment,,,and was in a very good health and preparing ourselves to visit our daughter once more,,,BUT that happened very quickly ,,,he lived only a month after this generalized liver metastasis,, I used to give him chemotherapy weekly the 1/3 dose every time ,,and he was supporting it very good ,,,especially with the premedication,,,, My best wishes to you and your husband. > > Has EPO therapy been considered and tried? This may be what is needed. > > Louis. . . . > > > ________________________________ > > To: ProstateCancerSupport > Sent: Tue, June 8, 2010 4:06:52 PM > Subject: Low Blood Counts > > Â > I am new to the group. My husband has advanced metastatic prostate cancer and after 2 years of chemo and radiation, his blood counts have dropped and won't come up again. He has had numerous blood transfusions over the past several weeks but they aren't working. > > Now the doctors are telling us he is stuck. He can't have any more chemo unless the blood counts come up. > > Does anyone have any experience like this? Is there anything we can do to bring up the blood counts. > > Thank you in advance for your help, PJ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 I found a case report of EPO therapy helping a man who had chemotherapy. See: http://www.springerlink.com/content/k8461038w6xt2q73/ Maybe it will help. It certainly sounds worth trying. Best of luck. -- Alan Meyer ameyer2@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2010 Report Share Posted June 9, 2010 I found a case report of EPO therapy helping a man who had chemotherapy. See: http://www.springerlink.com/content/k8461038w6xt2q73/ Maybe it will help. It certainly sounds worth trying. Best of luck. -- Alan Meyer ameyer2@... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2010 Report Share Posted June 17, 2010 Thank you very much for the information. We spoke to our doctor and he agreed to give Procrit a try on a weekly basis for the next 12 weeks. My husband got his first injection today. Crossing our fingers now. Again, thank you!! PJ > > I found a case report of EPO therapy helping a man who had chemotherapy. > > See: http://www.springerlink.com/content/k8461038w6xt2q73/ > > Maybe it will help. It certainly sounds worth trying. > > Best of luck. > > -- > Alan Meyer > ameyer2@... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 17, 2010 Report Share Posted June 17, 2010 Thank you very much for the information. We spoke to our doctor and he agreed to give Procrit a try on a weekly basis for the next 12 weeks. My husband got his first injection today. Crossing our fingers now. Again, thank you!! PJ > > I found a case report of EPO therapy helping a man who had chemotherapy. > > See: http://www.springerlink.com/content/k8461038w6xt2q73/ > > Maybe it will help. It certainly sounds worth trying. > > Best of luck. > > -- > Alan Meyer > ameyer2@... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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