Low white blood count

Ctine70
Ctine70 Member Posts: 150
Had my first round of chemo last Thursday followed by three shots of nepogren. Went yesterday for blood work and was told my white blood count was very low and need around round of nepogren. So upset over this
Can anyone tell me does this happen a lot should I just expect that every time I go for blood work that it will be followed by more shot

Comments

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    I have always had a low WBC (
    I have always had a low WBC (<4) and, when I had chemo back in 1987 (the Dark Ages lol), my doc withheld chemo one month because my WBC was <1. It freaked me out more than anything to not be able to get my chemo.

    Wish we had had neupogen back then!

    As to your question, I believe it does happen quite frequently because I see posts asking about it from time to time. My sister did have to have neupogen when she had her chemo, but I can't remember if it was after her first round of chemo.

    But I am betting someone else has had this happen?
  • missrenee
    missrenee Member Posts: 2,136 Member

    I have always had a low WBC (
    I have always had a low WBC (<4) and, when I had chemo back in 1987 (the Dark Ages lol), my doc withheld chemo one month because my WBC was <1. It freaked me out more than anything to not be able to get my chemo.

    Wish we had had neupogen back then!

    As to your question, I believe it does happen quite frequently because I see posts asking about it from time to time. My sister did have to have neupogen when she had her chemo, but I can't remember if it was after her first round of chemo.

    But I am betting someone else has had this happen?</p>

    Yes, my white count tanked a few times
    During chemo and even after for a while. I got a Neulasta shot after every chemo and was always able to get the next treatment. However, for some reason, after the 6th and final round of TAC my onc. decided to forgo the Neulasta shot. Ten days later, I ended up in the hospital for 5 days with some sort of systemic infection. My white count was 800 (3,000-4,000 is norm). I was on IV Vancomycin and some other antibiotic. The count came up and home I went.

    Glad they're watching your counts. Try to stay away from crowded areas, and my doc have me refraining from eating any raw fruits or veggies.

    Take good care,
    Hugs, Renee
  • Ctine70
    Ctine70 Member Posts: 150
    missrenee said:

    Yes, my white count tanked a few times
    During chemo and even after for a while. I got a Neulasta shot after every chemo and was always able to get the next treatment. However, for some reason, after the 6th and final round of TAC my onc. decided to forgo the Neulasta shot. Ten days later, I ended up in the hospital for 5 days with some sort of systemic infection. My white count was 800 (3,000-4,000 is norm). I was on IV Vancomycin and some other antibiotic. The count came up and home I went.

    Glad they're watching your counts. Try to stay away from crowded areas, and my doc have me refraining from eating any raw fruits or veggies.

    Take good care,
    Hugs, Renee

    Thank you
    This is all so new to me. Spoke with the nurse today and she said pretty much the same as you.
    I am due for my next round of chemo on the 27th so hopefully my count will come up some before them
    Thanks :)
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    Ctine70 said:

    Thank you
    This is all so new to me. Spoke with the nurse today and she said pretty much the same as you.
    I am due for my next round of chemo on the 27th so hopefully my count will come up some before them
    Thanks :)

    Whatever you do, don't eat
    Whatever you do, don't eat bean sprouts! No kidding, I had a nasty bacterial diarrhea this spring after eating them. The CDC site states that bean sprouts are the "usual suspect" in such infections. I am riding in car right now, but I can attach a link later.
  • Ctine70
    Ctine70 Member Posts: 150

    Whatever you do, don't eat
    Whatever you do, don't eat bean sprouts! No kidding, I had a nasty bacterial diarrhea this spring after eating them. The CDC site states that bean sprouts are the "usual suspect" in such infections. I am riding in car right now, but I can attach a link later.

    Hate bean sprout
    Good thing I bean sprouts lol thanks for the tip :)
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    Ctine70 said:

    Hate bean sprout
    Good thing I bean sprouts lol thanks for the tip :)

    been there, done that!
    What my Oncologist recommended was staying home -- house arrest, and eating
    as many foods high in iron.

    prime rib (my favorite)
    raisins
    cream of wheat
    almonds
    fish
    spinach

    *per WEB MD .....
    Red meat
    Egg yolks
    Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)
    Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)
    Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)
    Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)
    Turkey or chicken giblets
    Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans
    Liver
    Artichokes


    just to name a few.


    Vicki Sam
  • Ctine70
    Ctine70 Member Posts: 150
    VickiSam said:

    been there, done that!
    What my Oncologist recommended was staying home -- house arrest, and eating
    as many foods high in iron.

    prime rib (my favorite)
    raisins
    cream of wheat
    almonds
    fish
    spinach

    *per WEB MD .....
    Red meat
    Egg yolks
    Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)
    Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)
    Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)
    Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)
    Turkey or chicken giblets
    Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans
    Liver
    Artichokes


    just to name a few.


    Vicki Sam

    Great advice
    Vicki
    Thank you so much for the list of foods to help out m WBC.
    The doctor has put me under house arrest but I felt like there was more I could do but wasn't sure what.
    I will give the list a try
    Have a great weekend
    Christine
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    Ctine70 said:

    Great advice
    Vicki
    Thank you so much for the list of foods to help out m WBC.
    The doctor has put me under house arrest but I felt like there was more I could do but wasn't sure what.
    I will give the list a try
    Have a great weekend
    Christine

    Hope this helps!
    So much great advice here. A few more tips come to mind for me:

    White blood cells are so important in fighting infection. There are many different types of WBC's and most are important in taking care of infections. Some are even phagocytic (just a fancy, dancy term that means cell eating) and can literally eat up bacteria just like a pac man!

    One of my biggest tips on avoiding getting sick while you have a low WBC is to carry a hand sanitizer. I never, ever shake a person's hands without discreetly using my hand sanitizer asap after. As a nurse practitioner, I can assure you that most infections come from hands. I also use a hand sanitizer after exposure to a germy place (bathrooms). Another good idea is to wipe germy surfaces (such as your phones) with a chlorox wipe from time to time.

    Along that same thought, avoid touching your eyes and nose as many germs enter that way. Also, let your family and friends know that you are immunocompromised and, if they even just suspect they are coming down with anything, tell them to please stay away.

    Do stay up to date on all immunizations, as soon as your onc says it is ok to get them. You are eligible for the pneumonia vaccine due to the cancer. You may also be eligible for the shingles vaccine. But check coverage of both. My carrier paid for the pneumonia vaccine but won't cover the shingles vaccine until I'm 60 (which sucks since I have now had shingles twice since age 55)

    More about food:

    "Food selection and preparation
    •Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs, or foods that may contain raw egg. (some hollandaise sauce, Caesar or other salad dressings and mayonnaise.)
    •Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry, meat, or seafood or unpasteurized dairy products. (Well-cooked means no pink in the middle or with the internal temperature higher than 165F.)
    •Produce should be thoroughly washed before being eaten. (See Travel section if leaving the U.S.A)
    •Take care to avoid cross contamination of food. For example, uncooked meats should not come into contact with other foods. Hands, cutting boards, counters, and knives and other utensils should be washed thoroughly after contact with uncooked foods.
    •Do not share food, eating or drinking utensils with others if you have low white blood cell count. A dishwasher is not necessary as long as soap, friction, a hot rinse and a clean towel are used for utensils. Avoid using "communal" dips with vegetables, crackers etc. where others redip items that have been in their mouths or do not wash their hands." http://www.chemocare.com/managing/low_blood_counts.asp

    And one last link below about those pesky bean sprouts that I so loved written by Lt. Cmdr. Rajal Mody, MD, MPH, U.S. Public Health Service. Even though you don't eat them, I am just warning others, because I would have avoided them if I had known that they were so inherently dangerous.

    Hold the Raw Sprouts, Please

    http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/raw_sprouts.html

    And one final note (I promise...lol), even though I was exposed to all kinds of awful crap when my WBC was <1, for some unknown reason, I never got sick and never had to stop working. I am praying the same for you :-)
  • Ctine70
    Ctine70 Member Posts: 150

    Hope this helps!
    So much great advice here. A few more tips come to mind for me:

    White blood cells are so important in fighting infection. There are many different types of WBC's and most are important in taking care of infections. Some are even phagocytic (just a fancy, dancy term that means cell eating) and can literally eat up bacteria just like a pac man!

    One of my biggest tips on avoiding getting sick while you have a low WBC is to carry a hand sanitizer. I never, ever shake a person's hands without discreetly using my hand sanitizer asap after. As a nurse practitioner, I can assure you that most infections come from hands. I also use a hand sanitizer after exposure to a germy place (bathrooms). Another good idea is to wipe germy surfaces (such as your phones) with a chlorox wipe from time to time.

    Along that same thought, avoid touching your eyes and nose as many germs enter that way. Also, let your family and friends know that you are immunocompromised and, if they even just suspect they are coming down with anything, tell them to please stay away.

    Do stay up to date on all immunizations, as soon as your onc says it is ok to get them. You are eligible for the pneumonia vaccine due to the cancer. You may also be eligible for the shingles vaccine. But check coverage of both. My carrier paid for the pneumonia vaccine but won't cover the shingles vaccine until I'm 60 (which sucks since I have now had shingles twice since age 55)

    More about food:

    "Food selection and preparation
    •Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs, or foods that may contain raw egg. (some hollandaise sauce, Caesar or other salad dressings and mayonnaise.)
    •Do not eat raw or undercooked poultry, meat, or seafood or unpasteurized dairy products. (Well-cooked means no pink in the middle or with the internal temperature higher than 165F.)
    •Produce should be thoroughly washed before being eaten. (See Travel section if leaving the U.S.A)
    •Take care to avoid cross contamination of food. For example, uncooked meats should not come into contact with other foods. Hands, cutting boards, counters, and knives and other utensils should be washed thoroughly after contact with uncooked foods.
    •Do not share food, eating or drinking utensils with others if you have low white blood cell count. A dishwasher is not necessary as long as soap, friction, a hot rinse and a clean towel are used for utensils. Avoid using "communal" dips with vegetables, crackers etc. where others redip items that have been in their mouths or do not wash their hands." http://www.chemocare.com/managing/low_blood_counts.asp

    And one last link below about those pesky bean sprouts that I so loved written by Lt. Cmdr. Rajal Mody, MD, MPH, U.S. Public Health Service. Even though you don't eat them, I am just warning others, because I would have avoided them if I had known that they were so inherently dangerous.

    Hold the Raw Sprouts, Please

    http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/raw_sprouts.html

    And one final note (I promise...lol), even though I was exposed to all kinds of awful crap when my WBC was <1, for some unknown reason, I never got sick and never had to stop working. I am praying the same for you :-)</p>

    Wow
    What wonderful advice and suggestion! Thank you so very much
    I will definitely follow your advice last thing I want to do is get sick.
    Don't need any reasons to prolong chemo
    Thanks again
    christine
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    Ctine70 said:

    Great advice
    Vicki
    Thank you so much for the list of foods to help out m WBC.
    The doctor has put me under house arrest but I felt like there was more I could do but wasn't sure what.
    I will give the list a try
    Have a great weekend
    Christine

    I hope that with all of the
    I hope that with all of the suggestions you got that your count will go higher.


    Hugs, Debby
  • Ctine70
    Ctine70 Member Posts: 150
    DebbyM said:

    I hope that with all of the
    I hope that with all of the suggestions you got that your count will go higher.


    Hugs, Debby

    Hi Debby
    I hope so I go Thursday for more blood work so figures crossed
    Christine