Hi all, Has anyone had to have their treatment (chemo) postponed because of a low neutrophil count?
I started out at 6.42, Wednesday it was 0.87 and today, apparently, they are 'even lower'--so no treatment given and have beeen warned double-double about infection avoidance.
The nurse said it's quite usual, it's not because of anything I've done or neglected to do and that there's nothing I can do to 'up' the levels.
Just feel so deflated, having been all 'psyched-up'
Brenda

Hi Brenda. This is the same problem I posted about regarding my dad. He was given neupogen to help increase his white blood cell count. (His blood work was done Tuesday and he's giving himself one injection of the neupogen Wednesday, today, and tomorrow.) Maybe you could ask about it.

Stephanie

Thanks Steph--I thought someone might know as you'd started the neutropenia thread! I've just been reading up about children having those injections, so will ask on Tuesday if there's still problems!
Brenda

Hi Brenda, Of the 3 cisplatinum treatments I was supposed to have, I had my second one either 4 or 5 days late (can't recall which) because I had too low a neutrophil count for a while and I didn't have the third one at all because I was very neutropenic by then and it took months to recover.

There are medicines (one is called "Neulasta" here) to help with this and I don't know why I wasn't given this. Maybe they thought I wouldn't get as bad as I did and by then it would have been too late to have done me any good. It's also possible that my MO's office tried and my insurance quibbled about this and I never heard, since I understand from a cousin who had it during her breast cancer treatment that here Neulasta is actually quite expensive.

The main thing is to really try to avoid germs when your neurophil count is so low. if you can avoid being in public places at all, I would do so. And wash your hands regularly. If you have any symptoms of infection, even somehting mild, let someone know right away. I started having minor urinary tract infection symptoms (just a little irritation, normally I would have not worried about this) at one point and told someone before they got bad and they got me on meds right away.

Nelie

Hi Brenda,

When I was going through treatment I stayed away from everyone. I was to have 3 Cisplatin but could only have 2 just like Nelie. What you are going through is very common from what I have read.

You want to stay as healthy as possible. Keep up the fluids too. Don't worry you will be back on track with treatment in no time.

Take care,
Diane

Yup, it's pretty common. Jack had his 3rd cycle of cisplatin delayed because of it. He got the shot and it came back up. It's good to ask about it.

Even after treatment ends a percentage of patients have persistent low counts. Good luck and I hope you are feeling better. Regards JoAnne

Yes, Brenda, having to skip a treatment is very common. You might want to wear a mask out in public. I did and figured anyone who looked at me funny wasn't worth worrying about. (grin)

More seriously, a nurse told me that I manufactured new blood cells when sleeping, so boy howdy, did I sleep. Seemed to work, but maybe she just wanted to give my husband a break.

Thanks all for those replies!

I am swilling the water like it's going out of fashion and not much skin left on hands from washing them! And no-one's actually allowed to touch my mouse and keyboard now!!

It's just reassuring to know I'm not a 'freak'(or any more freaky than I was pre-treatment!)

Brenda