Help!

My husband has an anaplastic olidrodenglioma grade 3 and had a complete resection in feb 2012. He did 6 wks of chemo and radiation. It has been almost two mths since his last treatment and we are waiting for his white cells to go up so he can begin Temador again. Is this common? Why won't his white cells go up?

Also, I feel like I am losing it! Everyday I wake up and try to focus on other things so I do not become depressed and I feel like my husband wants me to dwell on the negative with him. I don't know what to do to help him. I am so scared and stressed. I just wish things could go back to normal. I am tired of hearing how strong I am. I'm not! I just want to know why all this is happening. I feel like no one understands. I'm 31 and my husband is 32, so most of our friends have no clue. I can't lose him and I need us to join forces and try to be optimistic. ANd he doesn't even want me to go to his next dr. appt.

Sorry to rant but I just need to get this out!

On the wbc question - my husband (AOA) only ever did 3 months of Temodar back in 2004 - his wbc dropped a lot after the first 2 months.  He has battled with low counts since then.  His old NO had no explaination, but he always runs low.

y wife could only take temodar for a few months back in 2009 and 10.

Her WBC got so low that they kicked her off a clinical trial..

She is taking CCNU now and the NO also gives her an injection of neulasta to help keep the WBC up there.

 

Yeah, I hear you. It's easier for people to say "You're so strong" than to recognize that you're losing it because then they might feel constrained to do something. I suppose you could try counseling. The WBC count thing is common. I'm surprised if there's a drug available like distancerunner mentioned, that they haven't offered it. You might try talking to the dr about you coming to the dr's appt. Ultimately they'll tell you it's your husband's decision, but generally the docs do like to have a family member there if possible.

I'm sorry about your husband's diagnosis.  this is a good place to vent your feelings.  I am a 19 year GBMIV survivor.  Go to virtual trials.com and you will find many longterm survivors with you husbands tumor type.  Don'tget hung up on the statistics.  I don't know much about the chemo. it wasn't availablle when I was first diagnosed.  Praying his white cell count rebounds and for strength and courage for you both.  Kathleen

I believe i would help.... I had 3 diferents cases two of them presented tumors and the results for the treatment was good.

i know how you fell i was young my husband was 45 and i was 43 too young to go thru this but evrything will work out god bless

I know totally how you feel.  I am 35 and hubby 41.  There is HOPE ... we are now 15 months out and no sign of cancer to this point ... leading 98% normal life ... I don't say 100 as he does get fatigued more easily, but works full time and is daddy to our 5 kids under 8 years old ... if you would like him to talk to my hubby you would be welcome to call us :)

 

Distancerunner is correct about the drug to boost a low white count.  There are two - neupogen and neulasta. Neulasta is the newest drug and given less often then neupogen.  I don't know what the level of the count has to be for the treatment to be given.  You should talk  to your NO about it.

Hi Virgo228,

I can hear the immense frustration in your voice when having to deal with the day to day trials of having a spouse diagnosed with cancer. I am a caregiver too and have to face the same sad face of my husband every day and keep on my so called happy face. I begin to feel we are the forgotton bunch... have to fend for ourselves.. during the crisis and after... perhaps we should create a book or movie on this... when a loved one comes home with the C word. You need to get your feelings out... " feel your feelings" ... if you can get some alone time.. do things that you will enjoy without having to feel guilty because you are away from your spouse... seek some counselling if you can.. , surround yourself with positive people and positive thoughts as often as you can.. no one will fully understand the course we are sent on , that we have not chosen, but it has been thrown at us... stay strong.. remember you are not the sick one...

Take care of yourself... one day at a time..