Help understanding mums chemo record.

[Deano]

Hi there

Mum has recently had her second chemo cycle and i have written down some details from her chemo record.

I couldnt make the last session otherwise i could have asked the oncologist directly and her next visit isnt for another week,

She has had some great news in that the tumour has shrunk greatly and im guessing these numbers echo that but i was hoping somebody could explain them to me.

Hb was 15.0 and is now 12.1

WBC was 17.7 and is now 5.4

Plts was 339 and is now 390

Neuts was 14.7 and is now 2.5

Many thanks

[lucykate7]

Hi, these numbers really are unconnected to the fact that her tumour has shrunk, great news however. These numbers relate to her blood cells, chemo kills blood cells and her bone marrow has to make new ones, these numbers represent different cells.

Hb relates to her red cells that help carry oxygen round her body, when they are low you are anaemic, despite falling at 12.1 they are ok. WBC are white cells and neutrophils are a specific white cell that fights infection. Originally your mums were higher than normal and she may have had an infection at that time or maybe have been on steroids, they have dropped noticeably and this is probably due to her chemo. However they are at an acceptable level at the moment. Plts are platelets they help your blood to clot and your mums are normal at both times. They heck these counts before every chemo cycle to ensure it is still safe to give it. Hope this helps

[Cherryblossom]

Fantastic news about your mum's tumour shrinkage! So pleased to hear that.

Lucykate7 has explained those numbers perfectly. At my mum's last chemo infusion, we too were studying those numbers. Mum's wbc has reached 18.0 which is very high. And her plt have dropped from 348 to one hundred and something, so mum has to be very careful not to cut herself.

Keep us posted on your mum's progress. I'll be praying her tumour keeps on shrinking away!

[Hidden in reply to Cherryblossom]

Cherryblossom - a platelet count of 100 is lower than normal but not a cause for concern. Bleeding & bruising happen at a much lower level than this. My dad was treated for leukaemia and at times his platelet count got down to single digits before he received a platelet transfusion.