High platelet count in pancreatic cancer patient?!
Question: My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February. It is inoperable and has spread. About 2 weeks ago his legs swelled so badly that he had to be admitted to the hospital and it took about a week to get them back to normal. While in the hspt he had tons of bloodwork done. The white cell count is up, but not terrible. However his platelets are over 1200. What can this mean? I am not in the loop with his doctors because my sister is the one that communicates with them, and they will only speak to 1 family member. Since this is the case, I do not get to ask the questions I want, and when I tell her to ask, she either forgets or gets the answer mixed up. (I have suggested writing things down to her)
Answers: My father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February. It is inoperable and has spread. About 2 weeks ago his legs swelled so badly that he had to be admitted to the hospital and it took about a week to get them back to normal. While in the hspt he had tons of bloodwork done. The white cell count is up, but not terrible. However his platelets are over 1200. What can this mean? I am not in the loop with his doctors because my sister is the one that communicates with them, and they will only speak to 1 family member. Since this is the case, I do not get to ask the questions I want, and when I tell her to ask, she either forgets or gets the answer mixed up. (I have suggested writing things down to her)
There are several possible explanations. Whatever the reason it probably won't cause him any problems.
Your platelet count can go up any time your body is under stress, and cancer certainly qualifies.
Also, some tumors release hormones that can signal your body to make more platelets.
The medical term for increased platelets is "thrombocytosis."
"Platelets, the smallest of the blood cells, are involved in clotting and enable the body to control bleeding. In normal conditions, platelet levels are regulated by factors in the bone marrow, but cancer cells may secrete substances that induce the marrow to produce platelets in excessively large quantities."