Kidney Issues After Radiation & Chemo

Yet another problem to wade through!  My husband is 2 months out of radiation & chemo.  About a month after, his blood tests showed his red cells to be weak and he was anemic and not showing much improvement, so it was decided to give him 2 blood transfusions and a Procrit shot to give him a running start.  A week later his numbers were much improved, so doc said not to come back for 2 weeks.  That got us through the holidays thinking he was improving.  Last week he went back in for another check.  His blood numbers were okay, not terrific, butt she said to come back in a month.  The next day the doctor called to say she was not happy with his kidney numbers.  She wants to refer him to a kidney specialist!  She doesn't think, at this point, that the kidneys would be affected by the chemo & radiation and should be improving.  Now this has us worried!  Anyone have this experience?  We're still waiting to hear back from her for the name of the doctor.  Just curious if this is typical. 

Our chemo dr warned my husband about potential kidney issues especially from cisplatin.  I've researched on my own and this does happen.  My hubby hsn't started yet, so input from experience.  You might check the chemo manufacturers website?

Please keep us posted,

Good luck. 

 

Yes, my husband was on cisplatin, though it has been a couple of months since his last treatment.  His Oncologist doesn't think, at this point, his kidneys should be reacting to his treatment.  His most recent blood tests, last Friday, showed his kidney numbers have improved by 30%.  We're encouraged, though his primary care doc still wants him to see the kidney specialist, scheduled for the end of this month.  Another blood test planned for the end of this week.  Stay tuned. 

Jean

Good luck and let's keep one another posted.  Thanks.

 

On 1/7/2008 NHquilta wrote:

Yet another problem to wade through!  My husband is 2 months out of radiation & chemo.  About a month after, his blood tests showed his red cells to be weak and he was anemic and not showing much improvement, so it was decided to give him 2 blood transfusions and a Procrit shot to give him a running start.  A week later his numbers were much improved, so doc said not to come back for 2 weeks.  That got us through the holidays thinking he was improving.  Last week he went back in for another check.  His blood numbers were okay, not terrific, butt she said to come back in a month.  The next day the doctor called to say she was not happy with his kidney numbers.  She wants to refer him to a kidney specialist!  She doesn't think, at this point, that the kidneys would be affected by the chemo & radiation and should be improving.  Now this has us worried!  Anyone have this experience?  We're still waiting to hear back from her for the name of the doctor.  Just curious if this is typical. 

 

 

On 1/21/2008 Investigator wrote:

 

On 1/7/2008 NHquilta wrote:

Yet another problem to wade through!  My husband is 2 months out of radiation & chemo.  About a month after, his blood tests showed his red cells to be weak and he was anemic and not showing much improvement, so it was decided to give him 2 blood transfusions and a Procrit shot to give him a running start.  A week later his numbers were much improved, so doc said not to come back for 2 weeks.  That got us through the holidays thinking he was improving.  Last week he went back in for another check.  His blood numbers were okay, not terrific, butt she said to come back in a month.  The next day the doctor called to say she was not happy with his kidney numbers.  She wants to refer him to a kidney specialist!  She doesn't think, at this point, that the kidneys would be affected by the chemo & radiation and should be improving.  Now this has us worried!  Anyone have this experience?  We're still waiting to hear back from her for the name of the doctor.  Just curious if this is typical. 

My father had only radiation for SCC of the neck. I feel that RT put my father in to renal failure (he did have preexisting structural damage as result of sepsis). Has your husband had any prophylactic treatment for Tumor Lysis Syndrome? Even though hospital says my father did not have it - his  uric acid level was too high and he could not excrete nucleic acid released by dead tumor cells. I believe this solitifed his kidneys.  Something as simple as Alloupurinol could have prevented. Hope this helps. Good luck. Sandi

 

Just to give you an update on the kidney issue-----my husband has had several blood tests and, thank goodness, the numbers have come down.  His regular doc wants him to still see the kidney specialist, so he has that app't today.  We don't expect any problems, but better to be safe than sorry.  Thanks for your words of support!

My husband has only one kidney, since having the other removed 30 years ago.  His team of doctors opted for cetuximab, rather than cisplatin because of the risk to his one kidney.  He has Stage 4 squamous cell tonsil cancer on one side.  They say that the results with cetuximab, together with daily radiation therapy have proven to be very good.  Our insurance covers it, as well.  Hope this helps.  Prayers are with you.