Protein in urine +1??

I'm sorry I just posted the last entry too about my Dad's weight decrease.  I went over during lunch though to visit with him and my Mom while he had treatment today and the nurse came in with his bloodwork.  They didn't do a "full" blood workup but instead just the CBC.  The nurse said Dad's protein in his urine was +1 and they like it to be a negative number.  She talked about the protein being filtered in his kidneys but it didn't make a lot of sense.  Does anyone know about this?  Just really confused.  His oncologist wasnt' there today but the one he did see increased his Avastin from 300 (I think it' mg) to 450.  I just think they're worried because of his weight loss and overall fatigue that the cancer has been growing and he's not set to have his next scan until sometime in September.  I guess I'm just confused.  The whole topic of his protein/kidneys threw me for a loop.  If anyone has any information on this I would appreciate it.  Thanks so much for listening to me babble...just always something that pops up that I am confused by. 

Hi,

I cannot explain it completly but my husband is also on Avastin & Folfox for rectal cancer. His onc in the begining said they would watch the protien in the urine. This apparently is a side affect of the avastin that you don't want to happen. Google avastin and see. I'm just confused as to why they would increase the avastin. I may be wrong but I'm pretty sure that is what my husbands onc said. He is on his 6th treatment tomorrow so far no problems with the protien. I think it has something to do with the kidneys not functioning as they should.

 

Good Luck

Toni

Hi, I'm on Avastin for stage 4 breast cancer. I have a monthly check of my protein level. Avastin does affect your kidneys and protein level. I'm surprised to hear that they increased instead of decreasing the dosage. you might want to ask the doctor about that. hope this info helps.

Kathy in Ohio

Thanks both of you for the responses.  That is why I'm ANGRY.  The oncologist he has had this entire 15 months knows my Dad very well and is SO great with him...but when he's gone for vacations, hospital rounds, sick he sees a different one and they know nothing about him.  He had a different one today and this oncologist came in and after seeing my Dad had lost 5 lbs in two weeks (after having lost 2 the week before that) she increased his Avastin (which I don't feel is her place to be honest..he's there every week so she could have taken the week to suggest it to his oncologist like they normally do).  To make it worse she didn't tell my parents it was being increased...the nurse told us.  The blood work was not even back when Dad saw the oncologist so she didn't know his protein was up...but shouldn't they CARE to see the bloodwork?  Plus, when he has dropped weight and shown increased fatigue shouldn't he get the same FULL work up of labs that he always gets rather than picking NOW to start ordering a minimum of tests?  Here's the last kicker of the visit.  My Dad has been on Megace for a couple of weeks.  My Mom mentioned prednisone to the oncologist today and she told my Mom she would stick with the Megace and rule that out first.  THEN when he's just starting his treatment a nurse walks in and gives the written prescriptions to them.  One of them....PREDNISONE!  I looked at it and said to the nurse...he is already on Megace and she wanted him to continue and now what should he do because he can't take them both?!  She got mad at me (I'm used to it because they look at me and assume I'm stupid because I'm young:) and said...well discontinue the Megace.  Seriously...let it be a lesson to all new cancer patients and caregivers...WATCH the doctors and nurses because unfortunately they are not perfect.  They are  human and they aren't expected to do everythign right but unfortunately their mistakes can be MAJOR mistakes! 

If It were me, i'd be on the phone to his regular oncologist before giving him anything new. yes, they should be taking his blood counts every visit before any chemo is changed or new meds ordered. I get a copy of my blood counts every time I go to the oncologist office. They check my protein level 1x every month because it's ok for now. Seriously, I'd get on the phone tonite to his oncologist and ask what's going on and get things straight before something serious happens. Prednisone is a dangerous drug to take and has to be given as prescribed to avoid serious side effects. I think you may need to find another oncologist to handle your dad's condition. you may want to check with the Cancer Treatment center's of America for a referral in your area. If you lived in southern Ohio I could refer you to mine. He's the best around and came highly recommended. Nothing is done or prescribed without his ok....keep me posted and let me know the outcome....good luck!!

Kathy in Ohio