WBC's Down - 6 mon out of tx

cureitall66
cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
edited July 2013 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

 

Hi Folks....

Kreg had some routine blood work done that his MD has him do for his heart and we noticed his WBC's were down to 3.1(has low written beside it) and his RBC's at 4.27. Does anyone know if this is normal to have low WBC this 6 months out from tx ending? During tx they did have to give him boosts of neulasta to keep it up. 

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on it. He has only had his thyroid checked so far at the tx hospital and that's been normal. Wondering if we should email or contact the hospital about it?

Thanks for any advice in advance.

~C

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Blood Labs

    Yoo girl....

    I've been having mine routine checked (ordered by MD), every six months since Tx ended... I can tell you that it took nearly a year for all of my blood counts to come back normal. Other than the TSH which has only been normal twice out of the last four years since finishing rads...

    Always good to have him see his primary or whomever, but more than likely he's good to go.

    Best ~ John

     

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    Normal....

    I was surprised too, when my WBC's were still low even at the 9 month check up....but the Onc isn't worried about it.  He said it just takes a long time for the body to get it's poop in a group after chemo.  The counts register as low, but they aren't low enough to worry about.  If I remember correctly, my platlets were still low also.

    p

  • cureitall66
    cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
    #4
    Skiffin16 said:

    Blood Labs

    Yoo girl....

    I've been having mine routine checked (ordered by MD), every six months since Tx ended... I can tell you that it took nearly a year for all of my blood counts to come back normal. Other than the TSH which has only been normal twice out of the last four years since finishing rads...

    Always good to have him see his primary or whomever, but more than likely he's good to go.

    Best ~ John

     

    Normal....

    John....as always thank you for your experience....

    Was thinking it to be fairly normal. But, he had that feeling of an infection or tenderness on the side of his face last week (opposite side of cancer and tx).....so naturally he got worried.

    I tried to read up a little bit ago on WBC and it appears that if it gets too high that is more of a sign of a disease or cancer. The lower is a sign of infection, viral infection, or from cancer tx. Either way makes you worry as the HPV is obviously a viral infection.

    He's got an appt to see his MD to discuss the results next Tuesday. May even shoot an email to his doctor at tx hospital.

    Thinking of you and your family right now...

    ~C

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #5
    WBC

    Cris,

    He just needs to get his “poop in a group”, you got to love Phrannie.

    I don’t know which of my problems are “cancer treatment related” and which are “age related”.   I am embarrassed to call my doctor again and again, so much so that like you, I am web investigating.

    Good luck and welcome to the club.

    Matt

  • cureitall66
    cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
    #6
    CivilMatt said:

    WBC

    Cris,

    He just needs to get his “poop in a group”, you got to love Phrannie.

    I don’t know which of my problems are “cancer treatment related” and which are “age related”.   I am embarrassed to call my doctor again and again, so much so that like you, I am web investigating.

    Good luck and welcome to the club.

    Matt

    Poop in a group....

    Matt & Phrannie.....

    I have been working vigorously with him to get his "poop in a group"...some days it works, and other days not so much. Wink

    Guess the body and mind....do what they wanna do.

     

    Matt....With Kreg going to U of M (to see ENT) every 6-8 weeks we have been taking a list of questions so we don't forget once he's there. That's worked well so far. In the meantime, he does get his routine blood work done for his heart issues and that's what prompted this question today. I'm thinking if it is of great concern to the MD (he is aware of the cancer tx), he would make a suggestion to us and also, wouldn't U of M be doing routine blood work if they were concerned about WBC's right now?....so far no blood work requested from them other than the thyroid...which came back normal.

    I guess...our minds never stop. Always trying to stay alert as they tell us is our first line of defense!

    Hope you both are doing well.

    ~C

  • HobbsDoggy
    HobbsDoggy Member Posts: 276
    #7
    Low Counts

    My counts are still low and I seem to be the only one worried about it.  7 months out from last treatment.  I tend to get colds and infections easily.  My doctor said that nothing to worry about at this point.  If it continues to stay low then in a few months he will hit me with something.  I do take B 12 shots, but did that before the cancer, just old age stuff.  Seems to help. 

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
    HobbsDoggy said:

    Low Counts

    My counts are still low and I seem to be the only one worried about it.  7 months out from last treatment.  I tend to get colds and infections easily.  My doctor said that nothing to worry about at this point.  If it continues to stay low then in a few months he will hit me with something.  I do take B 12 shots, but did that before the cancer, just old age stuff.  Seems to help. 

    Colds...

    LOL, I swear, Dawn and I never even got the sniffles for two years post Dx... We figured we had so much crap pumped in us, and zapped so many times, nothing bad survived...

    JG

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    Colds...

    LOL, I swear, Dawn and I never even got the sniffles for two years post Dx... We figured we had so much crap pumped in us, and zapped so many times, nothing bad survived...

    JG

    nah

    it was you just learned how to wash your hands. lol

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