Neutropenia, anyone else get it?

Chemotherapy doesn't really target cancer, it targets rapidly dividing cells in our bodies. Cancer happens to be a rapidly dividing cell but so are blood cells, hair cells, and cells that line our digestive tract. Your Neutropenia (low white blood cell count) may have been caused by the chemo, leaving you with an insufficient number of white blood cells to keep you healthy. We all have destructive bacteria living in our mouths, eyes, skin and elsewhere. The germ may have come from your own body. It's not uncommon for chemo patients to be admitted to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Sepsis is a real threat. I had to be hospitalized for 3 days following my 4th chemo and I lived alone, took a leave of absence from my teaching job, wore a mask when I went out and washed my hands all the time. It sounds like you're doing everything right but, since you're concerned, maybe your oncologist could make some additional suggestions. Mine started giving me shots of Neulasta to promote white blood cell production. After that, I was OK.
Good luck.
terri

I was neutrapenic also and ended up in the hospital after my first round of chemo. My doctors told me that the real worry is infection from your body rather than being infected by others - although that is a threat, too. In spite of being fastidious about handwashing, showering, hair washing, etc. a little scrape or paper cut can start problems because of our bodies inability to heal due to low white blood count. The neulasta injection that you will be receiving should alleviate a lot of the threat of neutropenia. Once I started receiving that injection, I had no more bouts of fevers, etc. Good luck. I did stay away from "outsiders" during my nadir - which for me was 7 - 11 days after the chemo, and I watched my temperature closely during that period of time. Talk with your doctors about the timing of your nadir. Again, good luck and hang in there. Hugs, Marilynn

I rec'd the Neulasta shots also when I went thru chemo.