Follow up:
Clarification / Comment by alex on Wed 02, Apr 2008 09:34pm:
Thanks a lot for your quick response.
Her oncologist is a hematologist as well and we've done all blood related tests(B12, folate
level,hepatitis,thyroid,artritis) and everything is normal.The only thing the bone marrow and regular blood
test both showed low iron(16). After she started to take iron pills, the iron level is 25.In February her
blood test showed anemia a little bit(11.4). After taking the iron pills, the Hemoglobin was 12.2 in March.
Once again, oncologist is saying it is not related to cancer or blood. We went to GI doctor and he said that
ther is nothing wrong with her liver. To test liver, ultra sound was done and the blood flow between spleen
and liver. Everything is normal. Also, cat scan was done and did not show any abnormalities with liver.
This happend right after the last session of the chemo. She is experiencing the following symptoms: numbness
in the fingers, joint pain. Joint pain is worse in the morning that she has difficulties walking. Then after
some time it is getting better. Also, there is joint pain in the albows. Again, all blood tests for artritis
look normal.
The oncologist said that the next step should be liver biopsy, but it is dangerous to do because of low
platelets.
Thanks a lot.
Clarification / Comment by Dr Bobby V, MD on Thu 03, Apr 2008 06:01am:
Hi Alex,
I would put off doing a liver biopsy at this stage. Liver appears fine on CT scan, ultrasound, and the liver
function tests are all normal. Diffuse involvement of liver by infectious organisms like fungus or
tuberculosis is a rare possibility.
Recent reports have implicated the role of chemotherapy-induced damage of bone marrow micro-environment
consisting of mesenchymal elements, stem cell adhesion molecules, and MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) in the
genesis of prolonged neutropenia and thrombocytopenia.
Clarification / Comment by admin on Tue 06, May 2008 11:24pm:
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enlarged spleen and cancer
Clarification / Comment by Unregistered on Mon 15, Jun 2009 12:57pm:
Two chemotherapy treatments left for Stage III Lymphoma in my abdomin. Now, my pet scan looks clear and its
very encouraging but now looks like my spleen is enlarge. Is this do to the chemotherapy and can it be cancer
affecting my spleen now too?
Clarification / Comment by Unregistered on Mon 15, Jun 2009 09:32pm:
Hi Lorrie,
With a clean PET scan, it is indeed looking good for you. Spleen may be enlarged due to many factors. If
lymphoma had spread to the spleen, it would have lit up on the PET scan.
Hence your internist should look for other causes for spleen enlargement.
Good luck with the remaining cycles of chemotherapy.
Dr Bobby
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