Anybody know about chemo and white blood cells

[madmommy6]

A friend is having chemo at the moment to pro long life not cure the cancer.
Anyway when dh took him for the last lot of chemo they were told his white cells were to low.He had to wait a extra week for the chemo.I take it that this isn't good.Anybody know?

Its to do with being at a higher risk of infection. My mum had hers postponed once too.

belgianbun so so sorry to hear about your colleague.
This disease really can and does get anybody,it doesn't matter about age or anything else.
Going through this with C has and me more careful to check things out.I would rather waste GP's time than miss something.

This is very common. It doesn't mean nything about the progression of the disease itself, so try not to worry. It just means the chemo has wiped out the white blood cells which is one of the side effects of the treatment. If they give the chemos too close together when they are low then he would be at risk of infection (white blood cells fight infection)
they might consider giving an injection to stimulate the white cells next time to stop them going so low.

Thanks dustystar i thought so.It just seems he has to wait an extra week each time for his cells to recover.I was just worried that while he is waiting the cancer is attacting,so perhaps he isn't doing has well has the consultant thought.I don't know really what i want to know,its just going round and round in my head.

luvaduck x posts.Thanks for that info.

they really should think about giving an injection to stimulate them then (called G-CSF) - do you know if he is getting this?

but don't worry - a week doesn't make much difference..

C hasn't said anything about having G-CSF.Dh takes him for his chemo and he hasn't said anything. C has a line fitted for the chemo,could he be having it through the line?

no its an injection for 5 days at about day 10 but depends what chemo he's having
the docs will know what they're doing though, but he could always ask
good luck to him x

luvaduck thank you for all the info.No he hasn't been having injections for 5 days,i do know that.I know the nurses and doctors will be doing their best,and he is feeling better than 3 weeks ago.We didn't think he would still be here now he was so ill.