Quick summary
A drop in platelet count, also known as thrombocytopenia, is a common side effect of chemotherapy or radiation for cancer treatment. And because platelets help make blood clot, having too few of them can lead to uncontrolled bleeding. (For more information on this problem, see Understanding Low Platelets.) Here's how to cope when platelet count drops too low.
Monitor platelet levels carefully.
Whenever a patient's platelet levels drop below 50,000 per microliter of blood, he's considered at risk for excessive bleeding. If his level drops below 10,000, he's in need of immediate medical attention. (For more information on blood counts, see Understanding Low Red Blood Counts.) Between 50,000 and 10,000, though, you'll be playing the waiting game, watching to see if his platelet count begins to rise, while protecting him from injury.
My platelet level recently dropped very low as a side effect from chemotherapy. This is the first time in my five months of chemo. So this article was very helpful to to me on how to manage the problem. Thank you!
My platalet count is now 75,000, it has been going down every time I take a blood test, I DO NOT HAVE INTERNAL BLEEDING NOR HAVE I EVER HAD CANCER. I did have prostate cancer in Nov 1992 and opperated on complete removal of prostate. My reading PSA IS O.1 EVER SINCE Nov 1992.. My Red Blood Cells is in a normal range, same with hgb, hct, mymcv is on the high side a little. My iron levels is normal. Question; What medicatioin is available for treatrment. If a person has a normal spleen can it entrap platalets. What about infusion into the bone marrow. Is their a blood available to see just where the platalets is going?
I NEED A REMEDY FOR LOW PLATELETS.WHAT TYPE OF MEDS. SHOULD I TAKE.PREDISONE IS NOT ANSWER. IN THE PAST ,PROCRIT,RETUXIN. DANASOL,CELLCEPT.
Hugs SALTMAN