You are here

infections and neotropenic

Bit of background. My husband Darren was dx with CML in March. He had 6 weeks of a chemo (cant remember name) as his wbc was so high. His now on gilvec. His been ill all week. GP said ear infection and started AB on weds. He doesnt seem to be getting better, and is sleeping loads, not eating much and shivering or too hot.
Now when he was on chemo at first they said if he developed infection, temp, unwell ect that he needed to go back to hospital as he could be in neotropenic stage. Now I spoke to macmillian nurse on friday, and she didnt seem overly concerned, but surely AB should have kicked in by now?

Thanks for the heklp

Hi,
I really think that if you are still worried and your husband is still not responding to anti-biotic treatment then you should ask for his neutrophil level to be assessed which will mean he needs to have a blood test at the clinic. If he is still neutropaenic then he needs to be monitored carefully.
You should get in touch with the clinic where he is receiving treatment.
At dianosis was your husband considered to be in chronic stage?
Do you mean by chemo that he was treated with Hydroxyurea (tablets) or was he treated with stronger IV chemotherapy?

Sandy

Darren might need GCSF injections to promote the growth of new cells to help fight the infection,Glivec can make you neutropenic allowing infection to take hold,Blood monitoring is very inportant,GCSF and Glivec can be taken together allowing the optimum Glivec dosage.
Please be pushy about your husbands health,try to get to a specialist CML clinic if you can,CML is very treatable and lots of good results these days,
Michael