I didn't, but my blood count stayed in the acceptable range. I'm assuming they're treating her for anemia. I've never heard of blood cell transfusions causing bone pain, but some chemo does. (I had severe bone pain from Taxol, but it only lasted about five days after each infusion.) She needs to talk to her oncologist. There may be another chemo she can try or different pain medication. My oncologist, bless him, prescribed large amounts of hydrocodone.

eta: Procrit can cause joint pain, but if that's the problem, the oncologist can try other things for anemia or space out the chemo more.

Oh, Neulasta, from the descriptions of the two, that's actually what I got. Wow, you'd think I'd remember better; well, I remembered the details, if not the name. I think she probably is getting Procrit, though. OK, thanks.

Thanks, both. I did some quick google fu, and I suspect it's Procrit, since she was talking about red blood cells. I didn't have that one. I am going to e-mail my sister shortly with some basics.

And, thanks, Ginger, I will most definitely suggest that she talk to her oncologist about options.

I don't think enough people complain in detail to their oncologists.

Timelies all!

Things start to get hectic on my DVR tonight. Summer shows winding down + fall shows starting up = catching some things on the second airing.

did you have to get yours flushed with heparin every time they used it?

Yes, and it turns out that I have to go back and get it flushed once a month until I remove it, which I guess I will be doing sooner rather than later, though not until after Hawaii.

eta: though every time for me was once every three weeks, and now they are saying flush it about every four weeks so if they use yours every week, maybe you won't need every time? I would ask about that.

if they use yours every week, maybe you won't need every time?

When they went in to use it the second time, it came up dry until they flushed it with saline. I don't think they heparined it after the first time. So I'm worried, but I'm also worried about what a not-clotter is doing flowing around my system, what with my wonky platelets and shit already.

I don't think enough people complain in detail to their oncologists.

I agree. And my experience was that my team was more than happy to give me whatever the hell I needed to prevent pain and nausea. My only really severe issue was the leg pain, which freaked me out, because I swear it wasn't listed as a possible side effect of the chemo, but then the nurse said it sure could be, so... yeah, here, have some percocet... enjoy.

I would definitely ask about that.

I took a small dose of coumadin for as long as I had the port. I had infusions every three weeks, like Perkins, and they flushed it with saline each time. I had to have it flushed with saline every six weeks after I finished chemo.