low white blood count

taraHK · July 2005

Hi. I just had my chemo postponed for the second time due to low white blood cell count. I'll go back in a week for another blood test. My oncologist is going to start me on a drug to increase WBC starting with the next round of chemo. I haven't had any such drug previously. He didn't tell me the name of the drug (and I forgot to ask) but I guess it must be Neupogen or Neulasta or similar. In the meantime, he suggested I eat more red meat, drink milk, and take a special multivitamin high in Vitamin C. And rest. I am feeling very bummed about this postponement. I welcome any advice or experience relating to boosting neutrophils/white blood count.
Tara
(off to take a nap to rest up!)

CAMaura · July 2005

Hi Tara,
So sorry about this. I only had a lowered white count once - and it corrected; but I had many other problems....Ya know, Chemo is killing everything around - good cells and bad; it is bound to affect our immune systems. See if you can rebound, and then talk to your doc. Maybe your system is rebelling a bit - maybe you are just worn out and need this week of rest. Do take care and keep us posted. Best of luck.
Cheers,
Maura

goldfinch · July 2005

If you want to try an "alternative" therapy, I've used visualization to try to keep my WBCs,hgb, and hct up. THe only time i needed to postpone chemo for low counts was when i was doing the chemo/radiation combo. Can't remember if I was doing th visualization then.
Anyway...I picture my bone marrow (especially in the big bones-like the femur in the thigh) producing smiling WBC and RBC's (like the happy face buttons, but in red and white instead of yellow) and they are happily travelling through the blood stream to all my organs, nourishing them and keeping them healthy.
Sounds hokey, I know, but it makes me feel like I am taking an active role in fighting this thing.
Mary

scouty · July 2005

Hi Honey,

Mushrooms are good. Shitake, but the best are maitake but they can be expensive. You can get some supplements; Maitake MD-Fraction or PSK/PSP (one of the other but not both), fish oil rich in Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA (there are pills forms so it's not anything like it sounds), Curcumin (I think you are on Oxilplatin), and Melatonin (do not take that if you are on anti-depressants). You should be eating tomato sauce, soy milk (chocolate is really good), lots of water, green tea, leafy veggies, broccoli, asparagus, light colored beans, peaches, carrots, cantalope, apples, sweet potatoes, oranges, green peppers, corn and watermelon.

Hope this helps you darling!!!!

Lisa P.

markatger · July 2005

Tara,

So sorry to hear about the postponement. I have never had chemo postponed but when the counts were dropping I was nervous. I wish they would give you the shot to increase the counts BEFORE you counts get too low to do chemo. That is what I wanted so that it would ensure I would not miss any treatment.

I am so glad that Scouty offered up some nutriotional ideas that may help. Might as well do everything that you can. Are you seeing a Naturopath or nutrionist , or at all interested in seeing one? I have been putting it off becuase I was overwhelmed by all the appointmnets that I had. But now I have found the time for it. I hope you can too. Hopefully you have people around to help a lot, so that you can focus on yourself as much as possible. I am taking full advantage of my work benefits so that I can have time off from work as well. And my naturopath visits are covered under my insurance which is becoming more common.

Again so sorry about this setback.... its hard psychologically and completely understandable to be bummin'. But try to keep your spirits up girl!! Positive visualization!!

Hugs,
Maria

bcmeaks · July 2005

Hi Tara,

I had one postponement because of low white blood cell count. My doctor gave me shots of Neupogen and it worked. I continued to get the Neupogen shots pretty regularly for the remainder of my treatments, which was about a month. The Neupogen kept my counts from dropping too low. I hope it works for you -- I know it stinks when you have to postpone. I had all the dates x'd off in my calendar and I had to add another week to my schedule. Good luck.

jana11 · July 2005

Try it all!! Most importantly, allow yourself to get adequate rest. I (OK, yes, I am a yoga addict) think the mind is a powerful organ. Try some relaxing movements and breathing. It just may work! And heck, eat some mushrooms too.

HOpe everything works and you don't have to postpone again. jana

tmd · July 2005

Tara,
My wife took that shot it works very fast, but the side effects is bone pain. She had her pain in the knees.

Mike

taraHK · July 2005

thank you all for your replies and suggestions. Very useful.
Tara

HisJoy · July 2005

I just completed treatment #10 of 12 and have had to have Neulasta shot after every treatment since pretty early on. Chemo was postponed one time before they started with the shots. The neulasta shots are a little "owwy" and they cause me to have INTENSE, throbbing pain in my lower back and pelvis, but this is sporadic and lasts only a few seconds. The pain doesn't even occur on a daily basis and so is manageable - better than getting an infection with white counts so low!

low white blood count

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