Monday, February 1, 2010

Neutropenia

Since my unfortunate decision to undergo FCR (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab), my neutrophil count has hit rock bottom, and pretty much stayed there. In fact, the low white blood count was the reason I only did four of the normal six cycles.

The neutropenia improved since January 2009, which coincided with the end of the four-cycle treatment. In the spring of 2009, I was on neupogen or neulasta for several months, with the low point being reached when my absolute neutrophil count plummeted to 106, well below the dangerous level of 500.

I did not need neutrophil support in the late spring, summer, and fall of 2009. However, beginning in late November, my neutrophils have dropped to dangerous levels again.

My counts are buoyed by the colony support factors neupogen/neulasta, with each course lasting 2-4 weeks. However, it may be that I am now neupogen/neulasta dependent, which is dangerous. Dangerous because artificially stimulating the production of neutrophils can lead to myelodysplastic dysplastic syndrome (MDS) or even the aggressive leukemia acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).

I'm hoping and praying that this does not happen.

Other than boosting my level of exercise, I know of no way to increase the production of the stem cells that were damaged by FCR.

That is one reason I have soured on the idea of using FCR. A well-known (though I had not heard of it prior to researching marrow failure) side effect of fludarabine in combination is secondary MDS, more difficult to treat than de novo MDS.

Live and learn. Though the learning might be easier than the living, if things go against me.

Even without MDS, I am perpetually at higher risk for infection being frequently neutropenic.

Not a happy place to be in.

OTOH, the flavopiridol/Alvocidib is still apparently working, though the side effects associated with the drug has not. I am scheduled for the last treatment in this fifth cycle on Wednesday, February 3.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I, too, have been chronically neutropenic for almost a year. I discovered a study that speculated that Vitamin B3 could boost neutrophil production.

I had been requiring Neupogen every 3-4 days. Yesterday's labs revealed I am not neutropenic (and it had been a week since my last Neupogen). I had completed my second week of B3.

I wanted to share this information with you in the event you (or your physician) want to research it to see if it might benefit you.

Barry B. said...

If you look at the older posts on this blog, you will note that I posted on this some months ago.

I read the abstract and thought it was so compelling that I had to share it with as many people as I could.

I'm glad it seems to be working for you. I've also used it with varying degrees of success.