Neutrophils dropping

I had my bloodwork last week and it was the last day of taking my Ibrance. It’s usually done after the week off but my oncologist was away and my schedule got messed up. They were 1.2 which was good. He said to just get my bloodwork done again this week and the oncologist nurse would call and do a check with me so we could be back on schedule. My neutrophils dropped to 0.6. This is after my week break. It doesn’t make any sense. She questioned me on everything trying to figure out where I must have an infection but we couldn’t come up with anything. She told me to take my temperature to see if I had a fever and it’s been hovering around normal. I have had a chest cough for I er a month but she said that wouldn’t lower my levels but my low levels are stopping me from recovering from the cough. Has this happened to any of you ? I take my Ibrance one week on and one week off and it’s been doing really good this way. Just had my scan and all organs are clear. I have had a big increase in bone pain and my pain meds were raised. Going to a bone scan in three weeks to see if the bone Mets are bigger. Sorry for the length, just worried the count drop means things are getting worse.

[illini9]

Hi Sarcie - I know neutrophil numbers are worrying. Mine are low too. I'm on the regular cycle of Ibrance and depending on where in the cycle I get tested they do vary. I go between .9 and 1.3 depending. I don't know how the signify anything with progression. I do know that Dr. Pluard (from Koontz center for advanced breast cancer) said in their Covid 19 webinar that neutrophils are important to fight off bacteria and since Covid is a virus that low neutrophils weren't as concerning as other parts of the immune system. However, overall our WBC on Ibrance is compromised so please take care.

[Hidden in reply to illini9]

Thanks. I’m used to mine being low and then increasing the more time off of Ibrance but it’s strange for them to be 1.2 and then get worse after the week off

[Timtam56 in reply to Hidden]

Hi sarcie.

Yes I get you.

It’s strange that they dropped after the first test and you’d been off ibrance! Hmmmm. Could the first blood test have been wrong? I often think that there’s a chance that the test is not done properly. But who knows whether that’s even possible? And also, two things. I am really stable on all my tests now, and I have had my ibrance level dropped from 125 last year, down to 100 and I’ve still been stable. They say it works just as well.

Plus, I have been taking amitryptaline for the last few months (as well as Targin, and endone and paracetamol allllllll the time). About five months maybe? And that has helped with my pain. Only a 2.5 mg dose. But my doc upped the level to 5 a few weeks ago. I don’t know why but my doc won’t be checking my bloods this cycle, but I’m off for my one week out of four for now. And I have had a bladder infection this week, sore, aching bones, a runny nose and ear ache for about two weeks. I also rang the covid 19 hotline to ask if I needed a test cause my temperature was up on one of those days. They said just keep and eye on it. It’s been okay.

All very low grade, but scary in this climate. I have an appointment with the general practitioner on Monday. I’m hoping she will do that by phone. Not in the clinic. I’m too scared to go out.

It’s just so frightening and unknown all of this. Have you been tested for covid19? I am sure we all worry so much more because of this climate. It’s not a time to feel safe that’s for sure.

Keep us posted on how you are please?

Chris.

[Hidden in reply to Timtam56]

No, I haven’t been tested for covid-19. Only people that have the symptoms are being tested right now. Did you get something for your bladder infection? I hope it clears up. There are so many different bugs going around it gets worrisome.

I hope your doctor does a phone appointment for you. Both my family doc and oncologist are doing telephone appointments which is a great relief. It’s bad enough going out for bloodwork.

I will let you know how next Monday’s bloodwork turns out. Thank you.

[Timtam56 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks sarcie. I found some old antibiotics that I always keep on hand for just this reason. My specialist dealing with the bladder years ago said I always had to have antibiotics on hand but to first try mega mega mega doses of cranberry tabs. Which I did for abut 5 days. Then I thought... hmmmm, this is getting serious. And it’s worked.

Thank “the great cosmic jester”!

Yeah. I only thought that because I had a temperature on one of those days. But the guy on the phone said just to keep an eye on my temp. I thought you said you had a temperature.

Yes. Keep me posted. Please. Take care.

Ps. I decided I wasn’t drinking a lot of water, to thin all the mucus /dry cough/ bladder.... all much better.... and improves if I’m taking in more fluid. Drinks I love etc. And that includes gin and tonics!😂🤩

[Hidden in reply to Timtam56]

I thing wrong with a gun and tonic. Lol

[Kdiet]

I am now on Ibrance 75 mg. This is my fifth round. Did one round at 125 and three at mgs. It takes two weeks for my neutrophils and WBC to rebound. From my first week off to my second week off, my numbers always get worse. Then quite suddenly they get better and I start again. This is not unusual I think.

Hang in there.

[Hidden in reply to Kdiet]

Thanks. Maybe mine are doing that. I’ve never had it go like that before

[Julie2233]

Hi, when I was on ibrance a couple of times my bloods were done when I either had a cold or was recovering from one. Both times my neutrophils and platelets were slightly higher than normal. I was told that this was because my body was fighting off the virus and was normal. I noticed that the following month when I was recovered the counts had returned to their usual low levels.

[Hidden in reply to Julie2233]

Thanks. I will see what they are on Monday

[Mimigram]

Try drinking pawpaw tea. It can help raise neutrophil numbers.

[Hidden in reply to Mimigram]

I have never heard of that tea.

[Hidden]

Hi Sarah,

I don't know what may have caused the drop in your neutrophils, but I just wanted you to know I am thinking of you. I hope whatever the issue is that it is soon resolved and you feel better.

Take care,

Sophie

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Sophie ❤️

[Mimigram]

tealife.com.au/products/paw...

[Hidden in reply to Mimigram]

Thank you.