CBC EVERY 2 WEEKS DURING IMRT

[GMan-62]

I've had 6 of 38 IMRT sessions so far. My RO is having a CBC done every 2 weeks, and my first one was today. Everything was normal except for 3 areas that were low. WBC is at 3.2 k u/L, Hemoglobin (Only) is 13.5 g/dL, and Hematocrit (Only) is 39.1%. I won't be meeting with my RO again until Wednesday August 31st, but I was wondering if these numbers are concerning or normal when receiving IMRT.

[DJBUNK]

I didn't have CBC every 2 weeks as your doctor ordered, just the usual quarterly testing which occurred about 4 weeks into my 8 week IMRT sessions. I also started ADT 2 months prior to the start of radiation. My WBC, HCT, and HGB levels all decreased during radiation to a low of 5.2 for WBC (still low 2 years later but up to 6.0 now), 39.8% for HCT (and still dropping, now 37.7%), and 14.0 for HGB (also still dropping, now 12.5). My doctors were never concerned about the decreases. Some radiation hits the pelvic bones, which are the largest bones in our bodies, which I understand affects blood cell production in the marrow.

[GMan-62 in reply to DJBUNK]

Thanks for the response. Looks like the WBC is the concern. What I have found online is if it drops below 4 it has a hard time fighting off infections, and mines 3.2.

[Shooter1]

They look like normal readings to me... Mine have been low for the last 5 yrs.

[cesces]

If you are getting any lymph nodes radiated, get your cd4 T-Cells continually tested.

Maybe weekly.

These are the T-Cells that never grow back. All the other types of T-Cells grow back. Cd4s never ever grow back or rebound. Ever.

Without them you are permanently immunocompromised.

I lost mine from imrt to the lymph nodes.

And don't let the ro bully you out of it. Or dilute the frequency. It's a cheap blood test.

If he is killing off your cd4s.... You need to stop the radiation immediately and consider other options from other types of specialties. Like maybe surgery.

[Appraiser]

My numbers WBC…..5.7, RBC…3.39,Hemoglobin 11.2, Hematocrit…..32.8% and I haven’t had any treatments like chemo or radiation……..they’ve been like that my whole life due to anemia and I’m 76, watch your WBC though