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Hi. John finished treatments April 15, 2009. He had an appointment with his Oncologist today. They always take blood while he is there. His WBC is only 3.7. He thought being a year out of treatment that his blood counts would be better. What makes the WBC stay low and will it ever be normal again?


Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2
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Hi, Wanda,

I don't have any info to offer you on this as Clark did not have chemo. Maybe it is related to John having had chemo? Anyway, I wish you and John well.

Anita


Anita (68)
CG to husband, Clark, 79,
DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08,
HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft.
Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear,
PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture
Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14
Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22
PEG 7/21
Botox injections
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Wanda,

This seems odd to me. I had lymphoma treatment 19 years ago that dramatically lowered my WBC but even during my treatment for SCC 2 years ago, my counts remained fine. Has the oncologist indicated any concern about this?

- Margaret


Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
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Wanda,

Good question. Normal range for white is 4.5-11.0. While 3.7 is a little low, it shouldnt be a big concern. Im 2.5 yrs post rad/chemo and my numbers still have never returned to normal range. My blood results for the last 3 weeks have been 2.4, 2.2 and 1.9. Usually the patients who recently finished chemo will have low white numbers.

Im hoping someone out there has some ideas as to why its so low and so hard to get back to normal. Ive asked my visiting nurse and she has no answer, either do several of the docs I have asked. Guess Im asking the wrong docs. In May Im going to my chemo oncologist who will have some answers.

Ive done alot of reading trying to figure this out. Low white counts commonly is a sign of an infection, among many other things. Ive been on IV antibiotics for 9 weeks and do not have any infections.

Hope someone knows the answer to this.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
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I would like to know the answer to this as well. My cou nts are still low and are staying low. They are hanging steady at 2.8 right now.


Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
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Posts: 235
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Wanda, I asked the nurse at Sloan today(with you in mind) about the wbc counts and she did say that it's not unusual for people to have low counts for 6 months or longer after chemo.

Is John having symptoms due to the low count?


CG to Spouse BOT, Chemo and radiation started on March 29,2010
Ended on May 14,2010. LET THE HEALING BEGIN!!!
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[quote=SusanW]Wanda, I asked the nurse at Sloan today(with you in mind) about the wbc counts and she did say that it's not unusual for people to have low counts for 6 months or longer after chemo.

Is John having symptoms due to the low count? [/quote]

Hi. Thank you so much for thinking of us and asking the nurse. John's Oncologist didn't seem concerned at all. John's energy level is back and he feels good. He eats a great balanced diet, salad every night with dinner and takes lots of vitamins. He just thought being a year out of treatments that the WBC would be back to "normal". He doesn't go back to him until September. He told John that when they do the blood work in September they will also test his thyroid levels. He sees the ENT next month and the RO in June. Hope your hubby is doing o.k. Thinking of you often.


Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 235
Gold Member (200+ posts)
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 235
That is so great that John(and you) have a Dr free summer.
Dave seems to be doing good(let me knock some wood here). Thanks for thinking of us.

The tumor went down and so did the pain.

He's eating well, decent energy,minimal discomfort. For the first time his voice is getting hoarse tonight. I think I remember reading that's normal.

It may be the calm before the storm but we are both appreciating this time period.
This sure does teach you not to sweat the small stuff, doesn't it???


CG to Spouse BOT, Chemo and radiation started on March 29,2010
Ended on May 14,2010. LET THE HEALING BEGIN!!!

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