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Getting an infection during chemotherapy...Question for the OT
Posted on 2/27/13 at 9:54 pm
Posted on 2/27/13 at 9:54 pm
My mother just finished her very last chemo treatment for breast cancer a week ago. She cruised through the first 4 or 5 treatments but the last 3 or 4 have taken their toll. She ALMOST made it all the way through without getting an infection but developed a very painful abscess (infection) in her tooth/jaw about a week ago. She had to be hospitalized this past Saturday due to the intense pain. She was in miserable pain until the doctor did surgery early yesterday morning to remove and drain the abscess. The good news is she is in much much less pain. The bad news is that her white blood count has actually risen since the surgery indicating the current antibiotics aren't effectively working on her weakened immune system. The antibiotics didn't cure the infection before the surgery (although it appears to have slowed it down) and the one they're giving her now isn't doing the trick yet either. I know infections during chemo are potentially dangerous but I didn't realize just how quickly they can get out of hand until the surgeon explained that the next step beyond the abscess would have been septic shock and death
Does anyone know people that have gone through chemo and have successfully fought off infection? The prognosis for her beating the cancer itself is actually really good but I beginning to get very concerned about the inability the antibiotics are having on knocking out the infection.
Does anyone know people that have gone through chemo and have successfully fought off infection? The prognosis for her beating the cancer itself is actually really good but I beginning to get very concerned about the inability the antibiotics are having on knocking out the infection.
6
Posted on 2/27/13 at 10:00 pm to Govt Tide
I don't have any idea but wanted to say I hope she gets better and hope that infection is gone soon.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 10:12 pm to Govt Tide
quote:
I don't have any idea but wanted to say I hope she gets better and hope that infection is gone soon.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 10:14 pm to AUTiger2234
Thanks. She has felt like crap the last 2 months (4 treatments) but her blood counts were ok and she was doing fine. She felt fine the first few treatments although her blood counts were unacceptable. The scary part about her particular infection is that it can quickly spread to the brain, lungs, and heart if it gets into the blood stream.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 10:20 pm to Govt Tide
Man I really hope your mom gets better.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 10:21 pm to Govt Tide
That is scary. Maybe they caught her infection in plenty of time. With today's medical field, she should be in good hands.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 10:24 pm to AUTiger2234
I don't really know either, but infections can mean a long hospital stay for cancer patients. Hope she gets better soon.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 10:31 pm to CtotheVrzrbck
I don't know either, but I hope she feels better very soon. Prayers to your mom, your family, her doctors, and you. 
Posted on 2/27/13 at 10:43 pm to CtotheVrzrbck
I probably should clarify my question in case there are any doctors lurking. I was more wondering if the fact that she is now done with chemotherapy would mean that her immune system would be stronger and more effective each day that goes by and that eventually the antibiotics would start working.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 11:08 pm to Govt Tide
I'm not a doctor, but I do have a degree in microbiology. Since your mom's chemo is done, yes her immune system will get stronger. But it will be a gradual process. Her immune system probably won't return to what it once was, but that case can be made for anyone getting into their elder years. Since she didn't reach the point of sepsis, I would believe she will be able to fight off the infection with some strong antibiotics and time. I think most bacteria associated with abscessed teeth are anaerobic which take longer to kill.
Do you know which antibiotics the doctors have tried so far?
Do you know which antibiotics the doctors have tried so far?
Posted on 2/27/13 at 11:19 pm to Govt Tide
I hate to hear that your mother is suffering. Great to hear that her oncological prognosis is good. Once she is finished with chemo, her immune system will gradually strengthen and be able to help the antibiotics fight infection.
I also acquired an infection during my course of chemo. It took a while to rid of it, but ultimately I was able to do so once I finished my chemo regimen.
Don't give up hope and stay strong for her.
I also acquired an infection during my course of chemo. It took a while to rid of it, but ultimately I was able to do so once I finished my chemo regimen.
Don't give up hope and stay strong for her.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 11:25 pm to The Nino
I'm not sure what all kinds of antibiotics were used prior to surgery but they ended up using one of the strongest ones there is (if you mentioned the name I'd probably recognize it) and it wasn't effective. That problem had more to do with the fact that the abscess needed to be dealt with before the swelling and infection could be taken care of. I just find it concerning that the first antibiotic used after the main problem was surgically removed hasn't been effective.
Is her higher white cell count the result of a strengthening immune system or the evidence that the infection has spread.
Is her higher white cell count the result of a strengthening immune system or the evidence that the infection has spread.
Posted on 2/27/13 at 11:55 pm to Govt Tide
Clindamycin, Amoxicillin, Methicillin, Chloramphenicol, etc. are antibiotics that I can think of that they might have used for that type of infection (I deal with viruses mostly so I might be a little rusty on this).
Without knowing the exact details of your mom's case (previous wbc#'s and whatnot) it's hard to say. In a normal person, a wbc spike is an indication of infection. Since she is cycling off of chemo, her wbc should be rising regardless of an infection. I would think a rise in her wbc would be a positive sign since it means her immune system is responding to the bacteria.
I imagine you and your mom have a good relationship with her doctors, and all of these are great questions which I'm sure they'd be more than willing to answer and explain further better than any of us could. I wish I knew more and could be more specific. Keep us updating on how she's doing, I'm sure she'll be able to fight it off. Here's hoping for the best
Without knowing the exact details of your mom's case (previous wbc#'s and whatnot) it's hard to say. In a normal person, a wbc spike is an indication of infection. Since she is cycling off of chemo, her wbc should be rising regardless of an infection. I would think a rise in her wbc would be a positive sign since it means her immune system is responding to the bacteria.
I imagine you and your mom have a good relationship with her doctors, and all of these are great questions which I'm sure they'd be more than willing to answer and explain further better than any of us could. I wish I knew more and could be more specific. Keep us updating on how she's doing, I'm sure she'll be able to fight it off. Here's hoping for the best
Posted on 2/28/13 at 12:27 am to Govt Tide
Not sure but letting you know she's in my prayers
Posted on 2/28/13 at 5:29 am to Govt Tide
First and foremost my prayers go out to you and your family. My brother went through chemo and radiation multiple times, and infection was a constant concern. If you don't mind me asking what type of bacterial infection did she have?
I have had a about half a dozen abscesses surgically drained. So speaking from some experience I can tell you doctors have to be very careful when using antibiotics. There is a risk when aggressively treating bacterial infections to overdose on antibiotics. So I am sure your mom's doctors were trying to be as aggressive as possible without putting your mom at risk in her current state.
I have had a about half a dozen abscesses surgically drained. So speaking from some experience I can tell you doctors have to be very careful when using antibiotics. There is a risk when aggressively treating bacterial infections to overdose on antibiotics. So I am sure your mom's doctors were trying to be as aggressive as possible without putting your mom at risk in her current state.
Posted on 2/28/13 at 6:22 am to Govt Tide
Ask your doc about IVIG. Basically a 1 month's supply of a stronger immune system. Good luck.
Posted on 2/28/13 at 8:52 am to The Nino
quote:
Clindamycin
This was one of the main ones used that wasn't effective before the surgery. The surgeon examined her and realized things wouldn't improve until the abscess was removed and drained. The relief from the really intense pain was immediate after the surgery was done to drain the infection. She still has pain but it is very managable. The elevated wbc was a bit of a suprise as all prior indications the day before yesterday and early yesterday were that she would probably be going home soon. She was told late yesterday that they were going to try a new antibiotic because the current one being used wasn't really making much progress. It's probably just a matter of safely upping her dosage and/or trying another antibiotic so I may be jumping the gun a little and it's just going to take quite a bit longer to knock out the infection than we thought.
I appreciate the info and the kind thoughts and prayers of everyone. Her name is Cynthia by the way. She turns 64 next Monday so maybe she can be home in time for her birthday.
This post was edited on 2/28/13 at 8:54 am
Posted on 2/28/13 at 9:04 am to Govt Tide
Please make sure she takes infection control seriously even after she gets out of the hospital. Until her immune system recovers, she needs to limit contact with people, wear a mask when she is around people, and practice proper handwashing. Cancer didn't kill my dad - infection did.
Best wishes to her and she'll be in my prayers.
Best wishes to her and she'll be in my prayers.
Posted on 2/28/13 at 11:59 am to Govt Tide
She needs to be put on televancin and ciprofloxacin.
Posted on 3/1/13 at 6:07 pm to Miz Piggy
"Cancer didn't kill my dad, an infection did"
This is what concerns me. She did finally get released from the hospital today so that was nice but she still has some minor to mild infection, some leftover swelling in her jaw, and managable pain. They gave her a new oral antibiotic to take and she is going to check back in with the surgeon who did the surgery on Monday to get results of the bacteria culture so they can find an antibiotic that will finally knock out the infection once and for all. She unfortunately got this infection at her body's most vulnerable point coming just after her 8th and final chemo treatment. I think her prospects are great if she can just get over this infection.
This is what concerns me. She did finally get released from the hospital today so that was nice but she still has some minor to mild infection, some leftover swelling in her jaw, and managable pain. They gave her a new oral antibiotic to take and she is going to check back in with the surgeon who did the surgery on Monday to get results of the bacteria culture so they can find an antibiotic that will finally knock out the infection once and for all. She unfortunately got this infection at her body's most vulnerable point coming just after her 8th and final chemo treatment. I think her prospects are great if she can just get over this infection.
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