Hey has anyone had their chemo delayed with low white blood cells? My chemo was cancelled last week as I was 0.6 and After hearing I’ve a tumour on my diaphragm on Friday, I’m beside myself as I’m now only 0.7 and still have to wait another week. My
Oncologist Won’t give me anything as I have to wait til after the next chemo. He’s saying my cancer is likely to be aggressive but there are so many unknowns with my case I just don’t know where to turn. How long will I have to wait or have people waited until they can proceed? I’m trying so hard to keep positive but I’m just feeling devastated. My oncologist is very hard to deal
With and changed my plan of consultation last Friday so I’m feeling at a complete loss. Any advice on neutrapenia? I’m trying to stay away from my small kids but it’s so hard as my husband has to work and they need me! How can I go on without thinking the longer I can’t have chemo the longer it has time to not work. I’m only 2 cycles in...
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NIKKibailie
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I'm sorry that's happening Nikki. Would it be possible to ask your doctor for a neulasta shot? It's given to patients to boost their WBC. Many patients get it a day or so after treatment so they can continue on schedule.
Aside from that, there are some foods out there that will supposedly boost your counts too. I think Kale might be one of them.
Hi Nikki. Those counts can normally recover within days; they did for me.
But I think you should switch to a different oncologist. Not judging his work here, but regardless of his skill, it sounds like you really don't trust him and that won't work. Getting a second opinion (and maybe another set of eyes looking at the latest scan images) could also help to bring some clarity regarding the current state of the disease.
You're under a lot of pessure, dealing with a tricky disease at a young age, and with children on top. So yeah, finding an oncologist you click with could provide some stability.
For now, I think wearing a face mask and using antibacterial handwash frequently, plus rubbing down surfaces (or getting help with that) might help a bit. You probably do that anyway.
One time my white count was down to 0.15 and chemo was delayed a week. During the week off it rose to 1.95 which was good for chemo. Then again it was very low for next chemo treatment. My doc said that the bone marrow is not recovering fast enough in a 3 week cycle, so my last 3 treatments were 4 week cycles. So treatments continue that way for next treatments in the future. And the chemo does work to kill the cancer cells. It just may take a few more months. I try to be positive & not stress out about it. When you are stressed out & worried, you tend not to eat healthy & get the proper rest. I eat a lot of fruit and veggies (such as carrots, yams, apples, berries) that boost the immune system and lots of protein (chicken, fish, eggs, beans). Also my doc said to take vitamin B6, B12, and E. Hope this helps.
Hi Nikki - I had this, in the end I think you just have to go with it and enjoy the extra time off with your kids. Having the chemo spaced out can be no bad thing. Nicola
Don’t worry Nikki..it should resolve itself over a week or 10 days.. I had many delays with chemo but it still worked. As usual eat well, rest etc...must be tricky with little ones xx
I had neutropaenic sepsis, as my neutrophils went down to 0.03. I was given Filgrastin injections for 3 days post chemo. This kept my neutrophils up and I finished 17/18 of my recent 3rd line chemo. Good luck x
I to had my neutrophils drop mine went down to zero. I had to wait two weeks longer to get chemo. For my 3rd round the strength of my chemotherapy was dropped to 80 percent That maybe what your specialist will do for you.
What I was told to do to raise my neutrophils up was to eat lots of greens especially cabbage and broccoli I ate so much that my urine had a green tinge to it. It must have helped as my neutrophils went up to 3.5
I know it’s worrying but neutrophils will pic up naturally
Hi Nikki, I had 2 chemo delayed because of this too - carboplatin wipes out your immune system & if you are young & have healthy kidneys, you are probably on a massive dose, that’s what happened to me (well I’m 47 lol, so not that young!). Mines was only delayed 3-4 days each time but they will be trying to give your body the most recovery time they can - chemo is the toughest thing that will happen to it.
I got told there’s not much you can do because the chemo is so much stronger than for example kale 😛 But having said that eat healthily, gentle exercise, & as much sleep as you can, sleep heals the body like nothing else - hard I guess with 2 kids.
Keep taking your temperature & phone chemo helpline at the slightest hint of anything, don’t be afraid to make a fuss.
I got told to treat my days delay as holiday days & do something that made me happy before the next hit, that definitely helped me be less anxious.
If it gets v bad you can get shots to boost your bloods, but they have side effects if their own so I guess they are trying to give your body a chance to do it yourself. You may find other counts slump too - I had 2 blood transfusions for RBC also, don’t worry if that happens, they expect these things!
Ps as Maus says, change your oncologist if you have the energy, this is a long journey and you have to trust them.
Hi Nikki. You are not alone! On my 1st recurrence, my neutrafils and white blood cells went very low after only 2 chemo's. I went on a lower dose of carbo/taxol and ended up only having 13 chemo's out of 21 weeks! I initially felt frustrated but realised I had a much better quality of life than my frontline chemo, missing almost 1 in 3 chemo's. I was lucky to go into remission again after 5 chemo's. I would have preferred 14 or 15 chemo's this time but what to do?!
I was offered and know alot of women have the injection to boost WBC but I looked up side effects and decided not to.
Please change your oncologist to someone you feel good about and who listens to you. My 1st oncologist was dreadful and I didn't realise I could change until 7 months later. I have a really great one now. Hope your WBC pick up quickly. I couldn't find any natural remedies that would boost mine without affecting the chemo but now I am 6 weeks after finishing, I take alot of immune boosting vitamins. Sending big hugs from Oz.
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