WBC too low for chemo

[Ellen B.]

I know there must be more posts on this subject, but I can't find them.

Henks white blood counts are way too low for chemo right now. I'm amazed and a little worried about this.

Henk is feeling okay and yet his counts are not. Is this 'normal'?

It's not the first time that this is happening! Is it possible to do something about it?

Ellen.

[Larry]

Ellen about all they can do is give a shot to help make more blood count's. My wife had that problem along with placlet's being to low. Them my wife's red blood cell's would drop and she would have to recieve blood transfusion's. Sad to say it generally is a result of the month's of Chemo and it also has to also do with Chemo type given.

[dchurchi]

This is a very normal occurance with Chemo. White blood counts tend to drop as the chemo kills healthy cells along with cancer cells. There are shots that can be given (can not remember the name and I am sure someone on the board can tell you) that is given to try and boost the WBC. Until they come back up though, probably no chemo.

Alan also had drops in his Red blood cells that requried blood transfusions and his platellet levels also dropped, which required platellet transfusions.

Sorry you are facing this bump in the road, but it is also a "normal" occurance with chemo.

[MurielK]

Neulasta or neupogen for white counts; aranesp or procrit for red counts. Has he been given anything for his blood counts yet?

Best wishes

Muriel

[Ann]

Neupogen injections always seemed to do the trick for Dennis. I think I gave him one injection daily for five days.

[joanie55]

That happened to me two times. My chemo was postponed for one week and my counts were back up. No medication was necessary. I don't know what determines meds or not, maybe how low counts are???

[Ellen B.]

Thank you very much!

Henk asked his doc about the shots. Doc told him it's better to wait until the body produces enough white blood cells without help. So there's nothing we can do but wait.

Ellen.