One shot Carboplatin

Hi Steve

In my opinion that is far too close.  There are different views on how fast your immune system comes back. Your specialist chemo nurses will be laser focused on you staying safe in the first 3 weeks and you would still be in this very vulnerable period.

Some of your doctors will suggest you take precautions for around 3 months.  My GP was very cautious and said around 9 months which I didn't really follow. It appears that it can take around 9 months for your immune system to be fully back to normal but you do have substantial protection sooner.

But I would say that being with the 3 critical weeks makes it a no go.  You might not even feel like going anyway as you'll still be having waves of fatigue by then.

Best wishes

G

Steve

I can only speak from my experience and when I had one shot of carbo I didn't feel any side effects and two weeks later they did my bloods and all was back to normal so I carried on as normal. 

I did eat lots of red meat after the first 7 days to help boost my immune system back up but as always speak to your doctor and see what he or she thinks. Everyone reacts differently. 

Andy 

Thanks Andy,

I'm hoping to be the same as you although I am a lot older but we do have something in common with you as we're both safety advisors. Such divers responses from the two I have. I will speak with the nurse on this but think they only contact me the day before the injection which would really be too late to offer the tickets for sale.

Wow, I read that the immune level is back up to 90% at the end of the third week and that is the time they would hit you with another session if you were having a series of chemo.

I never imagined I'd be at risk 3 months later. Wondering if I could get a blood test after to to see how the levels of immunity have risen in the third week. I don't have an allocated nurse as I am on my companies insurance and the nurse contacts me the day before the chemo for a question session.

Thanks for your response. The two replies I have had are so different.

Steve T

Your red and white blood count will be close to normal after three weeks, but that isn't a full representation of your immune system. B and T cell immunity isn't measurable by any standard blood test you'll be given.

You will be given the contact details of a specialist nurse, and they will be available 24/7.  I think you should talk this through with them on the day of your chemo.

Best wishes

G

Steve

Dam I need to change that im a regional safety manager now lol and if you live up north and want a new job give me a shout but in all seriousness everyone is different every hospital and doctor is different but always listen to your body. 

Thanks Andy,

I'm down in the smoke mate and and old git now so only looking at doing a few more years. 

I had 1 x Carbo late July 2019 and went on holiday to Spain 3 weeks later, they did ask me to go in to have my bloods done to (assume) measure blood count. They were happy enough for me to go.

All change for me now. I need to have 3 doses and they're increasing each dose 30%. It's now been detected in a lymph gland behind my stomach. 2nd dose due this Wednesday the 13th. No side effects at all so far. Only issue is my platelets are at 43 which they say is a little low.

Sorry to hear this Satindoors but it sounds like the docs around you have it covered.

I had one blast of carbo at the end of January so am about to have my 3 month check up. Good luck!!