my dad

[Guest guest]

I guess im going to have to start fighting for him, the last time i talked to

the dr' it was like pulling teeth to get the information if his spleen was

enlarged or not, and the fact that he only has one kidney because of cancer, my

thing is when my dads girlfriend asked about the red blood count being low, the

dr just stated it may take months for that to go up, in my thinking and i could

be wrong if the white count and blood platelets are down shouldn't the red count

be going up, and if its not then shouldnt it be watched. I want to thank all of

you for your information, what you are giving me is going to help me with my

website for cancer

From: hey00nanc <ncogan@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] my dad

Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 6:51 PM

 

>

> i did get to go to one of his appt, the dr was a but abrupt but did finally

answer my question, the last two times he went he did not see this dr but a

standard md, so now im stuck waiting for 3 months, my concern is the fact that

he will not be seen for 4 months and really he has only been on gleevec 400 for

two weeks

____________ _________ ___

Hi ,

If you Dad has only been on Gleevec for 2 weeks....... YES, he should not be

waiting 4 months to see the doctor again. He should have a simple CBC maybe

every week or two until his blood counts have stabilized (to know that they are

not dropping too low).

Usually the blood test can just be done locally at a lab and the results faxed

to the doctor....also the doctor should give you and your Dad permission to have

a copy of the results each time the test is done (it is a quick test, or the

results could be mailed to you).

They also should do a blood chemistry to make sure the drug is not affecting his

liver and causing the liver enzymes to go up. This should be about every 4-6

weeks in the early stages also.

These are the standard blood tests that the CML specialists do and they monitor

regularly in the beginning. I hope you will have good luck in talking to someone

about getting more frequent blood tests. If your Dad has a local GP, that doctor

can order these blood tests and then fax them to the oncologist at the VA.

C.