White blood count

sueholm
sueholm Member Posts: 205
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi, am hoping someone can answer my question.....this second chemo have been very exhausted. next one is due tuesday, and i am worrying that white blood count will be too low for it. by this time last time i was almost feeling normal. at what point do they not do chemo? beore first chemo my count was 9.4, before 2nd it was 8. i read normal range is 4.5 to 11. also, does anyone else have increasing pain from muscle in arm where iv is put in. daily, the pain gets worse, and when i straighten my arm it really hurts. have booked a holiday for feb 16, so of course, i am worrying that something will hold up my chemo, and prevent me from going. sorry to whine, but feeling so weak and helpless. love susan

Comments

  • tiger
    tiger Member Posts: 277
    #2
    Hi Sue, Rosa here (Tiger) this chemo crap is very exhausting, I think your count has to be above 1.4 if I remember right, I am not sure if it is the wbc or the absolute nutrafil, the terms used differ from place to place I find so I may not have the correct info. I know it is really frustrating to be tired and sore, especially if you are used to being on the go all the time,and then the chemo takes its toll, but no matter what just remember the light at the end of it all. I know that does not do alot of good when you feel like crap, but there is an end,and when you get the good news from your dr. then the tiredness and pain will all seem trivial. I hope all goes well and you get to go on your holiday. Are you going to see your new internet man? Good luck, and have a blast. If you cant be good, just be careful!!!!!!
    love and hugs, Tiger xox
  • pamtriggs
    pamtriggs Member Posts: 386
    #3
    Dear Susan. I realy feel for you. You sound so exhausted. Try some positive visualisation with the holiday as a goal at the end. Also try bovine colostrum to get your white count up. It is a natural immune system booster from the first milk mammals produce to give immunity to their newborns before their own immune system kicks in. Worth a try. It brought my count up very quickly after it fell from radiation. I will try to send you some strength as I now seem to have a bit to spare. Love & hugs. Pam
  • tiger
    tiger Member Posts: 277
    #4
    tiger said:

    Hi Sue, Rosa here (Tiger) this chemo crap is very exhausting, I think your count has to be above 1.4 if I remember right, I am not sure if it is the wbc or the absolute nutrafil, the terms used differ from place to place I find so I may not have the correct info. I know it is really frustrating to be tired and sore, especially if you are used to being on the go all the time,and then the chemo takes its toll, but no matter what just remember the light at the end of it all. I know that does not do alot of good when you feel like crap, but there is an end,and when you get the good news from your dr. then the tiredness and pain will all seem trivial. I hope all goes well and you get to go on your holiday. Are you going to see your new internet man? Good luck, and have a blast. If you cant be good, just be careful!!!!!!
    love and hugs, Tiger xox

    Pam is right , the boivine colostrum really works and it is inexpensive, I used it around the middle of the year when I found the chemo was the hardest and I was the most tired and after just a few days it really picked me up and gave me renewed energy.
    Hugs Tiger
  • sueholm
    sueholm Member Posts: 205
    #5
    tiger said:

    Pam is right , the boivine colostrum really works and it is inexpensive, I used it around the middle of the year when I found the chemo was the hardest and I was the most tired and after just a few days it really picked me up and gave me renewed energy.
    Hugs Tiger

    For the record, I found out the answer to my own question when i went for chemo today, when my wbc tested at 7.4, compared to 9 the first time, and 8 the second. i asked doc how low before not have chemo, and she said it would have to be in the region of 4, so i am doing just fine, even if it doesnt come right back to 7.4. they had a lot of trouble getting a vein today, they call me the lady with no veins!, but did, and ok from there. but tonite i am experiencing some nausea, for the first time. oh, when they hurt me trying to get vein...i cried....seemed the sensible thing to do at the time! My sister leaves tomorrow and my daughter arrives! take care everyone. love susan
  • jane38
    jane38 Member Posts: 123
    #6
    sueholm said:

    For the record, I found out the answer to my own question when i went for chemo today, when my wbc tested at 7.4, compared to 9 the first time, and 8 the second. i asked doc how low before not have chemo, and she said it would have to be in the region of 4, so i am doing just fine, even if it doesnt come right back to 7.4. they had a lot of trouble getting a vein today, they call me the lady with no veins!, but did, and ok from there. but tonite i am experiencing some nausea, for the first time. oh, when they hurt me trying to get vein...i cried....seemed the sensible thing to do at the time! My sister leaves tomorrow and my daughter arrives! take care everyone. love susan

    Susan, I feel for you. I wish you had a port or central line. Makes the stick so much better. Doesn't hurt, and you can move around. Maybe next time will be better. My veins are so damaged now I have to be stuck a minimum of two times just for a blood draw. You hang in there. Let me know when you are having chemo again or another stick and I will be there with you in my thoughts and prayers. Jane
  • mjdp2
    mjdp2 Member Posts: 133
    #7
    jane38 said:

    Susan, I feel for you. I wish you had a port or central line. Makes the stick so much better. Doesn't hurt, and you can move around. Maybe next time will be better. My veins are so damaged now I have to be stuck a minimum of two times just for a blood draw. You hang in there. Let me know when you are having chemo again or another stick and I will be there with you in my thoughts and prayers. Jane

    My veins "blow up" and move around alot. Drinking alot of water an hour before the blood draw seems to help. Also ask them to use a butterfly needle for the draw. Chemo did make my veins more brittle. I also notice I bruise more easily. Margaret
  • julies0816
    julies0816 Member Posts: 16
    #8
    hi sue
    My white count went as low as 2.0 when I was having chemo. but it would always seem to up just in time to have my next treatment. they usually would test a few days before treatment and then retest it the morning of to be sure but I think my oncologist would do it if it was above 3.0 julie
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #9
    julies0816 said:

    hi sue
    My white count went as low as 2.0 when I was having chemo. but it would always seem to up just in time to have my next treatment. they usually would test a few days before treatment and then retest it the morning of to be sure but I think my oncologist would do it if it was above 3.0 julie

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • vinny
    vinny Member Posts: 43
    #10
    pamtriggs said:

    Dear Susan. I realy feel for you. You sound so exhausted. Try some positive visualisation with the holiday as a goal at the end. Also try bovine colostrum to get your white count up. It is a natural immune system booster from the first milk mammals produce to give immunity to their newborns before their own immune system kicks in. Worth a try. It brought my count up very quickly after it fell from radiation. I will try to send you some strength as I now seem to have a bit to spare. Love & hugs. Pam

    Hi Ladies: I just started my first Taxol this week and my biggest fear is low white count. I've had to postpone a few treatments because my count was so low. I asked my O nurse and she said I can't take the bovine colostrum cause they don't know if it will react with the taxol. If anyone has any info, or do I have to wait till chemo is done. Does radiation also bring down your white counts and well as red counts??
    Any info will help, Your friend, vinnie
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #11
    vinny said:

    Hi Ladies: I just started my first Taxol this week and my biggest fear is low white count. I've had to postpone a few treatments because my count was so low. I asked my O nurse and she said I can't take the bovine colostrum cause they don't know if it will react with the taxol. If anyone has any info, or do I have to wait till chemo is done. Does radiation also bring down your white counts and well as red counts??
    Any info will help, Your friend, vinnie

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • maggie
    maggie Member Posts: 71
    #12
    vinny said:

    Hi Ladies: I just started my first Taxol this week and my biggest fear is low white count. I've had to postpone a few treatments because my count was so low. I asked my O nurse and she said I can't take the bovine colostrum cause they don't know if it will react with the taxol. If anyone has any info, or do I have to wait till chemo is done. Does radiation also bring down your white counts and well as red counts??
    Any info will help, Your friend, vinnie

    Hi Vinny! Radiation did not bring my white counts down as bad as chemo, but they did come down. It has been a year since I finished chemo and will be a year in March since radiation, and my white blood counts are still low. (around 3.0).My onologist told me not to worry about it, that it may never get real high again. As long as I try to stay well and go to the doctor as soon as I get sick, I would be able to fight off infection. Take care and May God bless you, Smile and hugs, Maggie
  • nancys
    nancys Member Posts: 323
    #13
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Christi, Just read your post. Did the neupogen give you flu symptoms? I have been down to 0 with my white count but lucky enough to stay healthy and no fevers, so i have not been treated for the low count. I overheard one lady at the Onco's office telling a nurse that the shots were making her sick and her arms were aching really bad. Just wondered if you experienced any of that. Love to you, Nancy

Discussion Boards