Renee Gentzel

I was all geared up to go for Chemo #5 – had my ice packs ready and I had been successfully fasting. Dr. [S] and I had a great discussion, and we’re all set for my next staging at the end of February (CT scan and tumor board review). I proceeded to the blood-work step, which they conduct before every infusion. White blood cells are in the normal range, as are my red blood cells. But my platelets… oh, my poor platelets. They do not like this. They were borderline acceptable for a chemo patient last time. This time, they were dismal, and below what a reputable doc would allow for treatment. (Secret hope: I’m crossing my fingers that my cancer cells are reacting to the chemo like my platelets are!)

And you know what? There is not a thing I can do to help my poor platelets. There is no medication or food I can take. Fasting and icing have no impact on this aspect. If I were in dire need, a blood transfusion would occur, and my doctors really don’t want to resort to that.

So, #5 has been bumped to next week. I’ll lose the bolus portion of the 5-FU, but keep the OX 2-hour infusion and the long, 2-day infusion of 5-FU.

(And yes, I couldn’t resist posting the adorableness of my daughter Hannah in baby form for Throwback-Thursday.)