nickysfight's Cancer Blog

April 5, 2007

If it's not the white, it's the red

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On April 2nd mom went to her oncologist to have her blood work done. I think that chemo in general is unbelievably hard on your body, but obviously worth it if it helps you eventually recover. This time her blood work showed that her red blood cell count was low (vs. her white blood cell count which had been the problem the last few months). I’m much more comfortable with a low red blood cell count although I don’t know if this is faulty logic or not. Its just that with a low white blood cell count you have to be very careful of infection which means that mom has to limit her exposure to other people (translation, she really needs to just stay at home) which she hates.

She also had a CT scan done on the 2nd which we should know the results of on April 9th, when she meets with Dr. Barrington. We are hoping that the CT scan results are good and that the surgery will be scheduled for sometime later this month. And for me, I am hoping that we find out more about the surgery (i.e. how invasive is the surgery, will it involve a colostomy, etc.). I think that the hardest part of this whole ordeal is the continual waiting for information. The doctors can’t tell you what the next step is until they see how you respond to the current step so it seems like we spend a lot of time wondering what’s next…

Aimee has been visiting with her this week and plans to stay through the appointment on Monday, which has been nice. They have planted some flowers and done some yard work, which I know makes my mom happy. My fingers are crossed that the CT scan reveals good news as I know that my mom is eager to have the surgery over with.

Posted on April 5, 2007 at 6:13:24 AM by Julie Scheffer for Nicky Hopper ( If it's not the white, it's the red, 1 comment)

Even though the white blood cell count is very important as is keeping the red blood cell count up also. Luckily there is a shot for both. The red blood cell one stings like a bee and is one of the cursed ones you can’t rub but it’s needed to continue the chemo.

And waiting on the results for ANY little thing involving cancer… I must agree with you 100% is the worst.

Posted on April 6, 2007 at 10:32:59 AM by gemmag