# Chemotherapy question (platelet depletion) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 9, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemotherapy-question-platelet-depletion/605585 "2011-12-09T03:33:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemotherapy-question-platelet-depletion/605585/1 "2011-12-09T03:33:57Z")
Okay, so as discussed elsewhere, my brother-in-law has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. After several weeks in the hospital with disruptions to his constitution (including a cholecystectomy and septicemia), he finally got stabilized enough to be discharged over Thanksgiving, and to begin chemotherapy last week. AIUI, the plan is weekly treatments for three weeks, then off for a week; continuing for six cycles. He had his first treatment session last Monday (November 28). It went well (as far as chemotherapy sessions go, I suppose), and he reported being able to manage the nausea with meds. Problem is, this week’s session apparently had to be cancelled due to his platelet count being low. So: any Dopers here with some experience with chemotherapy? Is platelet depletion a common side effect? And is there a platelet-replacement therapy (such as transfusion, even auto-transfusion) that is generally used to counter this complication? Thanks in advance. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemotherapy-question-platelet-depletion/605585/2 "2011-12-09T04:02:05Z")
Hodgkins Disease 40 years ago, and it happened to me. A friend and a relative with cancer now, and it’s happened to them. They didn’t do anything for us but wait for the counts to go up. For my sister they were giving some drug with her chemo that was to increase her platelet count, but I don’t think they had that when I was sick. Three cases doesn’t make it common, but it’s not rare. I hope everything goes well for your BIL and he can get back to treatments soon. ---
**Author:** ![Telperion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telperion/32/509_2.png) [@Telperion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperion)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemotherapy-question-platelet-depletion/605585/3 "2011-12-09T13:19:28Z")
Yup, happened here too, I had to cancel two treatments and wait for them to build up again. Luckily it only takes a couple of weeks to get them back to acceptable numbers so at the time I was kind of happy for the respite. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemotherapy-question-platelet-depletion/605585/4 "2011-12-09T23:04:41Z")
I donated platelets for about nine years. They said they used them for cancer patients as well as folks with other disorders such as hemophiliacs. That’s all I can contribute. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemotherapy-question-platelet-depletion/605585/5 "2011-12-10T03:17:13Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I donated platelets for about nine years. They said they used them for cancer patients as well as folks with other disorders such as hemophiliacs. > > That’s all I can contribute. How do you go about donating platelets? and do the usual blood/plasma restrictions still apply? ---
**Author:** ![goldmund](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a4c791/32.png) [@goldmund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/goldmund)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2011, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemotherapy-question-platelet-depletion/605585/6 "2011-12-10T04:13:00Z")
Hodgkin’s survivor here too. When I was inpatient and critical, they did indeed transfuse platelets when my count was extraordinarily low. They were so low at that point, though, that I was bruising all over the place, especially every time they stuck me for an IV. My memory of the ordeal is a bit fuzzy as I was a mess, but as I recall they had drugs to stimulate white blood cell production (Neupogen) and red blood cell production (Procrit), but not platelets. During treatment though, they didn’t transfuse. They just waited it out if any of my blood counts didn’t meet their requirements. Platelets have a very short life cycle, and since chemo effects rapidly dividing cells, platelets can get depleted. That’s my layman’s understanding anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2011, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chemotherapy-question-platelet-depletion/605585/7 "2011-12-10T05:23:59Z")
> [@goldmund](#): > > Hodgkin’s survivor here too. When I was inpatient and critical, they did indeed transfuse platelets when my count was extraordinarily low. They were so low at that point, though, that I was bruising all over the place, especially every time they stuck me for an IV. My memory of the ordeal is a bit fuzzy as I was a mess, but as I recall they had drugs to stimulate white blood cell production (Neupogen) and red blood cell production (Procrit), but not platelets. . I bet my sister’s shot is also for white or red, not platelets. I know she didn’t like it.