CancerCompass message board discussion started by Summerday on 7/5/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25739,0.htm Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hello,I have been on a low dosage of Revlimid for the past 8 months and over the past few months my blood count has gradually been going down.  I am now anaemic and my consultant has arranged for me to have a blood transfusion. She has told me that Revlimid can sometimes cause anaemia. Have any of you heard of this?   Despite becoming anaemic, I have felt better in myself with less pain in my spine and am now concerned as my consultant is talking of stopping the Revlimid.  During the past few months, I have also lost 3" in height.  I am told that my ribcage is now resting on my pelvic bone. This is caused by osteoarthritis, another common problem with MM., so I am told by my consultant. Again, I would like to ask my friends out there, if you have come across this problem?I look forward to hearing from you.  Summerday Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/5/2008 Summerday wrote:Hello,I have been on a low dosage of Revlimid for the past 8 months and over the past few months my blood count has gradually been going down.  I am now anaemic and my consultant has arranged for me to have a blood transfusion. She has told me that Revlimid can sometimes cause anaemia. Have any of you heard of this?   Despite becoming anaemic, I have felt better in myself with less pain in my spine and am now concerned as my consultant is talking of stopping the Revlimid.  During the past few months, I have also lost 3" in height.  I am told that my ribcage is now resting on my pelvic bone. This is caused by osteoarthritis, another common problem with MM., so I am told by my consultant. Again, I would like to ask my friends out there, if you have come across this problem?I look forward to hearing from you. Hi Summerday,Just a few things you can ask your doctor about, perhaps they have already done these, if not have them done.  The MM itself can cause anemia and my husband had more problems with anemia before he started the Revlimid than he has had since he has been taking it.  Have in depth iron studies been done to check your iron stores?  My husband had to have a synthetic iron transfusion to build up his iron stores.  Have they checked your vitimin B-12 levels?  Husband needed B-12 and had shots each week for one month and now one shot a month to keep his B-12 levels up.  It helps build the blood.  Have you been given anything like Procrit (also a blood builder) in shot form?  Husband takes 40,000 units every other week and that helps keep his counts up.  He also takes Zometa in the form of an IV.  Zometa is a bone hardener.Just a few ideas, hope they help.  Take care.Jan wevebeenthere Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Thank you so much for the information you have sent me.  I have blood taken each month, around 7 phials, for various testing.  I have no idea if they test for lack of iron.  I will certainly ask and will also speak to my consultant about the other things you mention.  My good wishes to you and your husband.  What country do you live in? I'm in England.Again, many thanksPhyllis Summerday Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My wife was on Revlimid and low dose dex for two cycles. Everything was going good until she started her 3rd cycle. She became very nervous, shaking all over, almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown. After talking to her Dr on the phone, he could hear her crying so badly, he told us to stop taking the drug immediately. Within 24 hours (and alot of zanex) she was fine agin. She is now on Velcade and low dose Dex doing very well.I have not heard of anyone losing height from MM but she also just had a total knee replacement. We believe the MM had alot to do with it, along with the RA in her knee.Remember to take it one day at a time and place yourself in the Lord's hands;good luck and God Bless BobBev7 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good Evening Summerday;I have been on a low dosage of Revlimid for the past 8 months and over the past few months my blood count has gradually been going down.  I am now anaemic and my consultant has arranged for me to have a blood transfusion. She has told me that Revlimid can sometimes cause anaemia. Have any of you heard of this?   Any chemotherapeutic drug is going to lower your blood counts. How low is always the concern. I've had my share of transfusions. I consider them part of the therapy.Your second question I cannot comment on. Take care;Kevin K. C. Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/7/2008 K. C. wrote:Good Evening Summerday;I have been on a low dosage of Revlimid for the past 8 months and over the past few months my blood count has gradually been going down.  I am now anaemic and my consultant has arranged for me to have a blood transfusion. She has told me that Revlimid can sometimes cause anaemia. Have any of you heard of this? My thank to you Kevin and all the other lovely people who have taken the trouble to answer my queries.  Good wishes to you all.Phyl     Summerday Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT My thank to you Kevin and all the other lovely people who have taken the trouble to answer my queries.  Good wishes to you all. Let's hope that they do some more research and come up with a super-duper new drug soon which will cure us all.Phyl   Summerday Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello,Sorry to hear about your wifes problems with Revlimid.  When I took Revlimid with Dex, I felt a very shaky nervous sensation, I then haemorrhaged very badly.  This happened on three separate occasions. My consultant then cut out the Dex and I am now on just the Revlimid which I take on alternative weeks and alternative days.  So, just four tablets every other week. My consultant has considered Velcade but thinks this may not work as I had a colostomy operation last year. She says that Velcade can cause problems with a colostomy.  Since stopping the Dex I haven't haemorrhaged or felt shaky.Good wishes to you and your wifePhyl Summerday Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good Evening Phyl;Let's hope that they do some more research and come up with a super-duper new drug soon which will cure us all.I'm very confident that there is one being worked on as we speak.However, keep in mind that it's more profitable to treat the disease than to cure it. These boys ain't stupid.I just wish I would get some divine inspiration prior to the announcement and be able to invest in that pharmaceutical company! You can bet the farm that I'd be smokin' a big, fat Cuban on some isolated island named 'KEVIN'. Take care;Kevin  K. C. Tue, 08 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi Kevin,Well, I for one have every belief in your confidence; just let me know as soon as you hear anything! Now, wouldn't that be great - finding out prior to any announcement about a new drug.  We could forget about trying to win the lottery - we would be made!  Mind you, I would be generous, I would go halves with you.Kevin, my friend, don't get carried away, you know that it would be bad for you to smoke a cigar - they have been known to cause cancer ;+) !!All good wishes and thank you for making me smile.Phyl Summerday Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Good Evening Phyl;Now, wouldn't that be great - finding out prior to any announcement about a new drug.  Believe it or not, but awhile back my brother, who does contracting, was working on a guy's house and this fellow told him about a new pill that was about to come on the market. My brother doesn't pay much attention to this guy's hot tip and never followed up on it. The new pill's name: VIAGRA.Kevin, my friend, don't get carried away, you know that it would be bad for you to smoke a cigar - they have been known to cause cancer ;+) !!I tell my wife something very similiar. "What's it going to do to me, kill me? She never finds the humor.All good wishes and thank you for making me smile.You are quite welcome!Take care;Kevin K. C. Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT From Anna,Hi Summerday, Yes that can happnen.  They have had to give Dad blood transfusions to and Arnesp shots to help boost his blood.  The cancer may also be some of the cause.Your friend,Anna  Anna9563 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello everyone, I would just like to thank everyone who has taken the trouble to reply to me, including the private replies.  It's a wonderful feeling to know that you're not on your own and other people are out there sharing the same problems. I wish you all good health and happiness, may your days be filled with sunshine and no pain.  Be strong in all that you do and may your God be with you.Phyl Summerday Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT