My sister was diagnosed at the end of January 2014. She has been in remission since her induction the first week of February. However, she has had really slow count recovery. She was taking 3-4 months to recover after each round of chemo even though they were decreasing the dose. They have now switched her to a less intensive chemo and she still had 2 mo before her counts came back enough for the next round which she will start tomorrow.

Everyone is different though. Most I have seen on this site seem to recover faster than my sister with the exception of Julie (Noodle). She seemed to have a similar issue during her treatments.

Hoping your counts recover soon but they take their own time. They call it the platelet dance. It is so frustrating. As long as everything else is going ok, the numbers will get there eventually.

Debbie

Chicagomom,

I think I am the "Queen" of slow count recovery. I base this title on the fact that one of my Oncs, Clyde Ford, who has 35 years specializing in Adult Acute Leukemia, told me I was officially out of his count recovery bell curve. I asked what that meant. He said, it means your marrow is very, very sensitive to the AriC and that's a good thing. He also pointed out that in the US the standard dose is 3. Most nations use a lower dose 1.5. Also, in the US the standard is 4 rounds of consolidation while most other nations do three or two as in Australia.

After Induction, my counts recovered VERY fast. In fact my platelets jumped above average to 477. At this point I started a spreadsheet tracking the amount of transfusions I needed, how long a gave myself nuepengen shots and my CBC. So here is a summary of four consolidation rounds:

Round one-dose of AriC 3
6 platelets 3 blood
Nuepengon Shots to day 27
Platelets 98 by day 62

Round two-dose of AriC 2
7 platelets 3 blood
Nuepengon shots to day 30
Platelets 96 by day 63

Round three-dose of AriC 1.5
8 platelets 4 blood
shots to day 30
platelets 98 by day 73

Round four-dose of AriC 1.5
7 platelets four blood
shot to day 30
platelets 96 by day 66

The only parameter my med team worried about was ANC and Platelets. My platelets had to be 100 (they never made it). Red was not a factor. The 28 cycle is the panacea. Not everyone fits that model. One down side to my slow recovery is it did earn me a BMB before my team would start another cycle. I am blessed in that I had an amazing PA who did mine (Dan Dan the bone marrow man) and I experience very little pain. The biopsies gave me a sense of assurance that the chemo was working.

Please keep us posted. You and in good company with me and Jo (Debbie's) sister. There are worse things than slow count recovery. Remember, as Jacki stated yesterday, you ARE cured. This chemo is your warrantee!!!

Praying for you

Jullie

Yes, this is extremely common and we all probably went through it at some point -- I do not know why the doctors tell us such short recovery times -- it is like best case analysis. And when things do not work out at the time they say, we cannot help but think that there is something wrong and perhaps they will never come back. I do not think we have ever had a case where that happened, but being a week or even a month overdue is the rule rather than the exception. If you read around you will find lots of cases of this. So, while it is really aggravating, we are certain that it is just a matter of being patient at this point -- dave

Yep, 45-50 day recovery periods for me. I think they should STOP telling people 28 days. I don't think I ever spoken to anyone who recovered that early.

I have an idea the reason they do it is to keep you up and not depressed -- but it does not work. I asked my push nurse one night how long this whole thing would take (first induction round -- I did not have a clue). She said -- let's not talk about that. And we went on to another subject. If she said -- it will take you all of eight months, I guess I would have been depressed. But telling you 28 days and then it takes six weeks or two months, that has its downside as well. All we can say is we know of no one whose numbers did not come back up, and your's will too. Take care -- dave

The last time I check my platelets were in the 70' 's and I am a 25 months survivor 2 induction and one consolidation only. Hang in there, you will turn the corner. I will be praying for you.

God Bless,

Dids

Dids,

So awesome to hear from you and to hear you are doing well. You are in my daily prayers.

Blessings

Julie

Julie,

Thanks, you are awesome. Before I started my first chemo, my platelets was 74 I think and I had bruises all over my body. It did went up to 300 plus after my first induction but my BMB still show's approx 7% blast. I have to undergo a second induction which put me in remission but my platelets has stayed consistently around 70 + and I don't get bruises anymore. I think that is my new normal. You are in my prayers too Julie...

Love,

Dids

Thanks everyone for your support and info. I was hoping to start 3rd round of consolidation this week but it looks like it will have to wait til next week. Platelets only at 44 and hemoglobin keeps dropping and is at 7.6. Dr offered to give me a unit of blood but I'm holding out til tomorrow to see if it comes up. Not dizzy or anything so Dr didn't push the blood. I'm so impatient! Just want this all over so I can move on.

Yay! Platelets jumped up to 55 and hemoglobin didn't drop! Hoping for chemo on Monday. :-)

Outstanding news! What do you need to teach to get chemo, mine was 100

Julie

Great news.

Karen

Guys,

Nothing is the new normal with counts. They do what they want. Just imagine those platelets sticking out their tongues at you. There is nothing to worry about. I agree with Lora. The docs should not quote how long it should take to reconstitute any of the counts. Everyone is different. Think of it as some huge bell-shaped curve. Our counts fall somewhere on it. That means absolutely nothing....just another source of unnecessary worry.

XO
Cliff

Ugh!! Still no chemo. Almost 2 weeks delayed (will be 2 weeks this Friday). Plates at 67. Doc wants them up to 100 but clinical trial I"m on only requires 50. Really hoping to start up again on Friday so I'm not more than 2 weeks delayed. So frustrating.

Chicago mom,

I'm so sorry those dang platelets are not cooperating! My parameter was also 100. The rationale was that the chemo can cause a brain bleed of the count is lower although I know other only have to reach 60. Please remember that the chemo effects are cumulative, so each subsequent cycle may take longer for your counts to recover. Your counts are headed in the right direction. I'm praying for you

Blessings

Julie