r/endometrialcancer • u/Talesfromthescript11 • 10d ago
Uncontrolled Bleeding, increased WBCs??
My mom was recently diagnosed after going in for a hysterectomy (was not completed) where they found cancer. I’m at a total loss at the moment. She’s been taking the diagnosis well for all intents and purposes but she started bleeding BAD out of nowhere about a week ago. Doctor put her on megace but it hasn’t been helping. She went to the oncologist on Tuesday and her RBC were 7.7 and they sent her home and said they would give her blood on Friday before her first chemo session. I got a text from my sister this morning who is with her at the moment and she said that my mom’s BP was 93/52. I was like nope immediate ER. When they got there they checked labs and her RBCS were 5.3!!! Thankfully they gave her fluids and 2 units of platelets and she is starting to feel better but still exhausted from the blood loss and Benadryl they gave her. Has anyone experienced this and what helped? She’s starting radiation on Tuesday to hopefully help with the bleeding and tumor shrinkage.
Another notable lab…her WBCs. They were slightly elevated (13 something) on Tuesday and today they were 22 and her neutrophils are elevated as well. Has anyone experienced anything like this before? She’s going in tomorrow to get more labs and her first chemo infusion but it seems like no one is answering any questions or has any answers. I’m so frustrated with how this is all being handled. Any advice on what my sister and I can ask the doctors or care team is so much appreciated. My mom is just very upset and weak and I don’t know how much more of this she can handle.
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u/AnyPumpkin2322 10d ago
Explain your situation to chat gpt and ask for a list of questions to ask. I got some really great questions I would of never thought to ask for my mom. Sorry you're going through this. My mom was recently diagnosed stage 4 endometrial sarcoma and it's been incredibly hard.
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u/MeanMugginMin Stage IB 10d ago
I nearly bleed to death. I needed 6 bags of blood before surgery. 8 weeks after surgery my hemo was at 13. I used the 'blood builder minis' by megafood. I got mine on Amazon. It's more expensive than plain iron...but the stuff works. My mother and sister(luckily I do not, or I'd be dead) carry the Thalasemia beta gene and are constantly anemic. This vitamin helped my sis build her stores up, when nothing else did, it's really difficult for a Tbeta carrier.
Your experience may differ, of course. But it's worth a shot! I'm a fan though. I'm not exaggerating when I say I nearly bled to death. The ER nurses actually cringed when they pulled my 'diaper' away. It was bad.
Sending your fam all the good vibes. I've been in those shoes and I don't envy your journey.
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u/Talesfromthescript11 10d ago
I honestly think that if my sister wasn’t there and I didn’t tell her to go to the ER, she would have! I got a pic of my mom before her infusion and she just looked gone. It’s so scary! I’m really hoping they can get the tumors to shrink so they can do a hysterectomy. She needs one BAD but since her cancer has escaped the uterus they are waiting until November to re-evaluate. Chemo tomorrow and radiation starting Tuesday and I’m praying for the best! I will look into that supplement, thank you! I hope you are doing well!!
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u/sanityjanity 10d ago
She really needs the blood. Are they going to finish the hysterectomy sometime? Will she get more blood transfusions? Have they scheduled iron infusions?
I was bleeding like that when I got diagnosed, and I was given heavy doses of progesterone to help stop the bleeding. It helped a bit, but having the hysterectomy was really vital.
I did radiation and iron infusions for months, and finally got my RBC up before I even started chemo.
And chemo made me anemic again.
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u/Radical-One 10d ago
Both glad and sorry you're here 💛
She needs the blood transfusions with counts that low. Chemo clobbered both my RBC/hemoglobin as well as my WBC counts. There's no way my team would have allowed me to take a chemo treatment at 7 let alone in the 5s! I was threatened lol with more transfusions at 9 but insisted on going forward with chemo. Ask if it's safe to proceed with numbers that low. The high WBC might indicate an infection or something as simple as a cold or whatever crud is going around now.
Best wishes for you and your mom! ☮️
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u/mcmurrml 9d ago
Who is the one speaking to the doctor for her? Whoever it is you go and get this doctor and demand some answers. They cannot keep you in the dark. You need to know what's going on now so there is a plan for the way forward.
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u/CABB2020 9d ago
Usually the medical oncologist checks bloodwork before any chemo begins. Have they cleared your mom for chemo treatment with blood values like this?
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u/Talesfromthescript11 9d ago
They cleared her and she got her first treatment today
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u/CABB2020 7d ago
What did they say about the wbcs so high? when was her hysterectomy? surgery can make wbc counts go thru the roof.
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u/doug123reddit 10d ago
Bleeding is frequently how endometrial cancer announces itself, if that’s what it is, and it can be dangerous. It sounds like you’re in the early phases of stabilizing her and figuring out next steps, which might include surgery. I would try to get more information. We also benefitted from a routine second opinion, not because there was anything wrong with the first doctor but to broaden the assessment. Good luck.