Hello,
My mother achieved a good response after induction with cyclophosphamide, Velcade, and dexamethasone (CyBorD) and an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) – she achieved a complete response (CR) with an M-protein of 0 and "less than 1% of plasma cells".
She will take 4 more cycles of Velcade and dex due to high risk (t4;14). Currently, she is in the second cycle. However, what worries me is the low hemoglobin count, being always between 105 and 110 (normal is above 120). Please note that her hemoglobin was always a bit low (maybe due to undetected myeloma at the time). She had her stem cell transplant in October 2015.
We are living in a nice area of Croatia where she grows a lot of vegetables, oranges, etc in the garden, however nothing puts that hemoglobin any higher. Would you have any recommendations?
Thank you very much and good luck everyone!
Praying for that cure already!
Forums
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1
-
Lavanda - Name: Lavanda
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Low hemoglobin after complete response to treatment
Hi Lavanda,
Ahhhh, Croatia ... that is on my bucket list of beautiful places to explore in the next few years.
Not all iron from food sources is created equal. The iron found in fruits and veggies (non-heme iron) is not as easily absorbed as the iron found in animal meat and organs (heme iron). My hemoglobin was dropping about a year ago in spite of eating lots and lots of spinach, kale, etc on a daily basis. I then tried increasing my intake of red meat and my hemoglobin popped up nicely.
However, I didn't want to eat a lot of red meat and organ meat on a regular basis (I now only indulge in an organic hamburger now and then). So, I tried a daily ferrrous sulfate iron supplement and that worked just as well as a red meat diet in keeping my hemoglobin level up. But as with all supplements, you should first check with your doctor before trying it.
Ahhhh, Croatia ... that is on my bucket list of beautiful places to explore in the next few years.
Not all iron from food sources is created equal. The iron found in fruits and veggies (non-heme iron) is not as easily absorbed as the iron found in animal meat and organs (heme iron). My hemoglobin was dropping about a year ago in spite of eating lots and lots of spinach, kale, etc on a daily basis. I then tried increasing my intake of red meat and my hemoglobin popped up nicely.
However, I didn't want to eat a lot of red meat and organ meat on a regular basis (I now only indulge in an organic hamburger now and then). So, I tried a daily ferrrous sulfate iron supplement and that worked just as well as a red meat diet in keeping my hemoglobin level up. But as with all supplements, you should first check with your doctor before trying it.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Low hemoglobin after complete response to treatment
Hi Multibiliy
Thanks, that helps a lot. I realized that we focused a bit too much on vegetables, and forgot about red meat. We will try to increase that for a while and then see with a doc.
By the way, let me know if you decide to visit, I would be very happy to give you some tips
Thanks, that helps a lot. I realized that we focused a bit too much on vegetables, and forgot about red meat. We will try to increase that for a while and then see with a doc.
By the way, let me know if you decide to visit, I would be very happy to give you some tips
-
Lavanda - Name: Lavanda
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Low hemoglobin after complete response to treatment
I visited Dubrovnik and the surrounding area 2 years ago. A beautiful part of the world. Hopefully I'll be able to return some day and visit more of your beautiful country.
My hemoglobin remained low for quite a while after my transplant 6 years ago. Although it is better now, it is always at a low normal level and just below that. I don't remember my hemoglobin rising to near normal for greater than 8 months post transplant even though my M-spike had dropped to 0. It took more time for all of my blood levels to improve.
Your mother is still in the early stages of recovery from her transplant. What has the oncologist said about her hemoglobin level? If it drops to the point where it is dangerous, your mother likely would receive an injection to improve her red cell count, which would improve her hemoglobin level. I've had this injection a couple of times over the years with very quick results.
All the best to your mother in continuing to have a good response to her transplant,
Nancy in Phila
My hemoglobin remained low for quite a while after my transplant 6 years ago. Although it is better now, it is always at a low normal level and just below that. I don't remember my hemoglobin rising to near normal for greater than 8 months post transplant even though my M-spike had dropped to 0. It took more time for all of my blood levels to improve.
Your mother is still in the early stages of recovery from her transplant. What has the oncologist said about her hemoglobin level? If it drops to the point where it is dangerous, your mother likely would receive an injection to improve her red cell count, which would improve her hemoglobin level. I've had this injection a couple of times over the years with very quick results.
All the best to your mother in continuing to have a good response to her transplant,
Nancy in Phila
-
NStewart - Name: Nancy Stewart
- Who do you know with myeloma?: self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 3/08
- Age at diagnosis: 60
Re: Low hemoglobin after complete response to treatment
Thank you, Nancy!
I wish you all the best and to visit Dubrovnik and all the islands soon. It is nice to see that someone from US knows about my country.
Well, her hemoglobin was never actually decreasing - it was always in range 105-110. The lowest was at diagnosis (98).
Actually, today I was very happy to see that it finally exceeded 110. Today it was 112
Not a big jump, but means a lot – step by step Last Tuesday it was 105 and her oncologist said if it doesn't increase, that they would have to give her "something". I would prefer if she could increase it somehow with food.
Actually, for two days (since Multibilly recommended red meat) she had red meat for lunch, so maybe that's the reason for uptake? Maybe I'm just optimistic, but I hope it will increase naturally to normal levels.
I wish you all the best and to visit Dubrovnik and all the islands soon. It is nice to see that someone from US knows about my country.
Well, her hemoglobin was never actually decreasing - it was always in range 105-110. The lowest was at diagnosis (98).
Actually, today I was very happy to see that it finally exceeded 110. Today it was 112
Not a big jump, but means a lot – step by step Last Tuesday it was 105 and her oncologist said if it doesn't increase, that they would have to give her "something". I would prefer if she could increase it somehow with food. Actually, for two days (since Multibilly recommended red meat) she had red meat for lunch, so maybe that's the reason for uptake? Maybe I'm just optimistic, but I hope it will increase naturally to normal levels.
-
Lavanda - Name: Lavanda
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
Re: Low hemoglobin after complete response to treatment
Lavanda,
The way I remember it from a conversation with my GP it is that it takes a few weeks for one to start to see a difference in hemologobin levels due to a change in iron consumption.
The way I remember it from a conversation with my GP it is that it takes a few weeks for one to start to see a difference in hemologobin levels due to a change in iron consumption.
-
Multibilly - Name: Multibilly
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Smoldering, Nov, 2012
Re: Low hemoglobin after complete response to treatment
Oh, so maybe long-term vegetable eating is finally paying off
Thanks, everyone. Will let you know how it goes with further Velcade + dex therapy.
Thanks, everyone. Will let you know how it goes with further Velcade + dex therapy.
-
Lavanda - Name: Lavanda
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Mom
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 53
7 posts
• Page 1 of 1
Return to Treatments & Side Effects