Tuesday, August 21, 2007
We're back from clinic and barely escaped a hospital stay. Hannah's counts were mixed:
WBC 1.67 very low, range is 5-14.5
ANC 50 very low, should be 1500-7000 or higher. This means she is very susceptible to infection
RBC 2.63 low, range is 3.9-5.3
HGB 8.91 pretty low, range is 11.5-15.5
Platelets 165, in the low end of range
The doctor was surprised that her platelets and hemoglobin were still ok. Not so surprised that her ANC is low. If she had had any kind of fever at all today, we would have stayed (that's what happened last time). So, she is back on the daily Neupogen shots through Saturday. Hopefully this is her nadir for all counts, and next week she won't require a transfusion or more shots. It's hard to tell right now if she is on her way down still, or recovering on her counts, since they don't test daily.
Her doctor also wanted to give her another booster shot to help raise her hemoglobin, since it's pretty low. On Monday, if her hemoglobin is much under 8, she will need a transfusion. However, I presented him with some data that I had found which shows in a pediatric study that the drug they use to help with chemo induced anemia may boost cancer cells, increasing her risk of recurrence. The doctor found the information trustworthy enough to NOT give her the shot today, and he is looking into further information published on this drug. The articles say that if this is indeed the case, then it's preferred to hold off on the shots and just give the kids the transfusion. For now anyway, she's not getting the shot.
So, right now we have to be super careful about infection. She will start the shots tonight, so they will immediately help her (unless she's still her way down). Here are a few shots of us at the aquarium yesterday (which we won't be doing for awhile, too many people).
She's been asking to go to the aquarium all summer, so we finally went yesterday. Who knows what her counts were yesterday, and it was crowded!
xoxo Kim
WBC 1.67 very low, range is 5-14.5
ANC 50 very low, should be 1500-7000 or higher. This means she is very susceptible to infection
RBC 2.63 low, range is 3.9-5.3
HGB 8.91 pretty low, range is 11.5-15.5
Platelets 165, in the low end of range
The doctor was surprised that her platelets and hemoglobin were still ok. Not so surprised that her ANC is low. If she had had any kind of fever at all today, we would have stayed (that's what happened last time). So, she is back on the daily Neupogen shots through Saturday. Hopefully this is her nadir for all counts, and next week she won't require a transfusion or more shots. It's hard to tell right now if she is on her way down still, or recovering on her counts, since they don't test daily.
Her doctor also wanted to give her another booster shot to help raise her hemoglobin, since it's pretty low. On Monday, if her hemoglobin is much under 8, she will need a transfusion. However, I presented him with some data that I had found which shows in a pediatric study that the drug they use to help with chemo induced anemia may boost cancer cells, increasing her risk of recurrence. The doctor found the information trustworthy enough to NOT give her the shot today, and he is looking into further information published on this drug. The articles say that if this is indeed the case, then it's preferred to hold off on the shots and just give the kids the transfusion. For now anyway, she's not getting the shot.
So, right now we have to be super careful about infection. She will start the shots tonight, so they will immediately help her (unless she's still her way down). Here are a few shots of us at the aquarium yesterday (which we won't be doing for awhile, too many people).
She's been asking to go to the aquarium all summer, so we finally went yesterday. Who knows what her counts were yesterday, and it was crowded! xoxo Kim
Hey there Hannah Banana! Sorry to hear that your counts are so low but you are so lucky to have such a well informed mom! Advocating for your health like she does is truly a gift! I am so jealous about you getting to see the penguins! I LOVE penguins. Keep on getting stronger my dear. You have the strength of thousands.
Love you
Mrs V
Good for you Kim for staying on top of this! You are a wonderful mother and Hannah is so lucky to have you in her life....as are you lucky to have her too! ; )
Hannah....you are so brave - look at you with your hand in that "fish bowl"!
Have a great day and we love you lots!
Dear Hannah,
Sorry not to have written for awhile. We went to New Jersey for a big family golf tournament. Your bake sale was a wonderful idea and I know lots of children in both Boston and Long Island will enjoy the things that will be bought with the money. If you have another, I'm thinking maybe I could send down some Cape Cod salt water taffy for you to sell. Then, I looked at all the tomatoes. Boy, do I wish I lived closer just to have a few of those fabulous tomatoes. I look forward to the Summer just to have tomatoes from the garden. I hope Mom plans to make lots of spagetti sauce and put it in the freezer for next Winter. We love looking at your smile in the pictures, Hannah, you are a very special gal. Of course, we love seeing you in the pink Red Sox hat.
Love, Judy Griffin