Now, I'm losing a lot of the small amount of remaining hair I have. It has been two weeks since my 4th chemo, and now I'm seeing the effects of it. The chemo kills cells in my body which grow quickly. Hair goes quickly so it is being killed. Red and white blood cells also grow quickly which is why 90% of people who have chemo also become anemic, and why I take medicine to make more white blood cells. Most people taking chemo treatments are just mildly to moderately anemic. I'm only mildly anemic so I hope to make it through without having to have a transfusion and with some hair. Only two more chemos!
Good news about Chemo caused Anemia
Yes, chemo does kill blood cells. I have been concerned knowing that the chemo has destroyed some of my red blood cells (why I'm anemic) and my platelets (causes blood to clot), since I will be having surgery in just two more weeks. Being anemic and low on platelets has really worried me, until I learned more about what happens to my cells.
You have chemo and 7 days after the cell count begins to drop, reaching a low point on day 14 (what I just experienced). After that, your body begins to recover. By the 28th to the 35th day (week 4 or 5), the red blood cells and platelets, generally, will have returned to a normal level. This is why my surgery is scheduled for day 28. All should be well.
After surgery, I will have another four weeks before I need to have more chemo treatments, so I should have good blood levels by then. I had feared that my level of present anemia would be made worse by the last two chemo treatments that I will have after surgery and that my anemia would become so severe that I'd need a transfusion. I feel relieved to know I should have normal blood levels before my last two chemo treatments. I am going to make it!
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