More on Aranesp

Amgen released more details on Aranesp-related deaths in cancer patients Monday, according to a report from Reuters.

The new report explains the situation more clearly, which is a relief for those of us who have gotten this drug or may need to get in the future.

The story wraps up with the paragraph:

"Dr. David Steensma, a hematologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, said doctors have become more cautious about prescribing biologic anemia drugs, possibly targeting lower hemoglobin levels than previously, as they await further clinical trial data and results of an FDA advisory committee meeting scheduled for May 10."

Sounds like a reasonable position.

I'm still anemic. Still working on improving things with diet and an iron tonic. And I'll discuss this whole issue with my oncologist when I see her on Thursday. I'd rather err on the side of caution.

Read the news report:

Amgen details higher death risk in Aranesp trial

(One odd detail in the above Reuters report: Reuters says Aranesp is given by IV. I've always gotten it as a shot. Hummm.)

Read my earlier posts on Aranesp:

Whining About Anemia

Chemo, Anemia, and Aranesp

@ Jeanne Sather 2007.

Comments

[Sara]

I know you've been doing your leafy greens, but don't forget the beets 'n' beans, baby! The rawer the better. Sprouted raw legumes (e.g., kidney beans) are delicious and loaded with Vitamin C, but also have a nice portion of iron in every serving. Beets (if you're not anti-beet; many people are) also offer a nice helping of iron, are awesome baked like potatoes and retain their nutrition well that way. The greens are nutritious, too -- just like spinach! But you know what really has a ton of iron? Nuts! Hazelnuts have 30% of your RDA of iron in every serving, and taste great toasted and thrown into a spinach salad with kidney beans, shredded beets, and goat cheese. Mmmm-mmm. Anemalicious!

I know; you know. Sorry. Sometimes my unfulfilled Jewish mother genes force themselves to the surface. :)

And if for some reason you didn't know, here's a great free resource:

Nutrition Data
http://www.nutritiondata.com

[jeanne]

Sara--thanks! I didn't know about beets, and I love beets. I'm planning to grow some this year, but I won't wait for that.

Forgot about hazel nuts, and I love those too.

I like beans and greens, but they're a bit tough on my touchy tummy.

Jeanne

[Sara]

Greens are really best for your bones, as they contain Vitamin K, which helps the body use calcium. If you have to steam 'em to digest 'em, do it, but try to find a way to use the liquid. A better way is to sauté them in olive oil (with garlic and chopped tomatoes, if your tummy can take it) until they wilt.

A number of less difficult to digest sources of both protein and iron include tofu and peanut butter. Tofu (made of beans, soy beans, duh) contains 37% of your RDA of iron, and a cup of peanut butter has 251%. If you ate a peanut butter sandwich every day and a tofu stir fry every night, you'd significantly amp up your iron intake (unless you already eat that way).

I used to be vegan. I've dealt with anemia from time to time either because I was on the Life-Sucking Tumor Diet or just swimming along in my really fun gene pool, but I always found that iron supplements made me terribly ill, barfingly ill. So from time to time I eat a lot of peanut butter and tofu. Or tofu with peanut sauce. Or peanut butter on toasted Ezekiel Whatever:Whatever cinnamon raisin and sprouted multigrain bread. I'm not the Queen of Nutrition, but I find these things do make me feel better and don't seem to give me extraordinary digestive effects of any kind.

[Sara]

Er -- I misread. Vitamin enriched peanut butter has that much iron. Normal peanut butter (like the Maranatha organic in my fridge) has much, much less. It's still got a nice serving, but to get even a third of your RDA of iron is at least one thick, gooey sandwich. I still eat it when I'm sickly; it still makes me feel better. It's not as good for the vegetarian blood as just a handful of tree nuts or a slab of tofu, though.

Running along now... :)

[jeanne]

Guess what I had for dinner last night? Tofu. I was craving it. I lived in Japan for seven years and Hawaii for four, so I eat a lot of tofu. Also peanut butter.

Ended up getting the Aranesp today, though, my hematocrit was just too low. Bummer. But necessary.

Tofu with peanut sauce. They do that in a restaurant just down the street. I'm heading over there tomorrow.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Jeanne