During today's consult with señora's chemo nurse practitioner her white blood cell count was very low, 0.8.
The radiation oncologist suspended radiation treatments for this week and they have told her to stop taking Xeloda. The plan is to resume radiation next week. She has had 22 of 30 planned radiation treatments.
Has anyone here had a similar experience?
Low WBC count
Low WBC count
7/14 Mrs. Wu dx rectal cancer T3N0M0
completed CRT 10/29/14
Filter placed in vena cava for clot 1/18/15
Resection and temp ileostomy 1/22/15
2/4/15 path report T2N0M0
6/22/15 flex sig. Reversal 7/24/15 obstructed bowel 9/3/15
4/9/18. NED
completed CRT 10/29/14
Filter placed in vena cava for clot 1/18/15
Resection and temp ileostomy 1/22/15
2/4/15 path report T2N0M0
6/22/15 flex sig. Reversal 7/24/15 obstructed bowel 9/3/15
4/9/18. NED
Re: Low WBC count
I cannot speak to rectal cancer and radiation, but lots of folks end up getting shots of Neulasta or Neupogen to get WBC up and keep them up so that treatments can continue. I used to get one Neupogen shot the day before each FOLFOX infusion and my WBC was fine for chemo the next day. Some folks find that the injections cause them bone pain and other discomfort but they did not bother me.
63 yo F
Colon resection Sept. 2010
pT3N0M0 Stage 2A
Medullary Tumor 6.5cm long
Lymphovascular invasion
Lynch negative
12 FOLFOX 11/2010 to 5/2011 8 w/Oxi
NED so far
Colon resection Sept. 2010
pT3N0M0 Stage 2A
Medullary Tumor 6.5cm long
Lymphovascular invasion
Lynch negative
12 FOLFOX 11/2010 to 5/2011 8 w/Oxi
NED so far
Re: Low WBC count
My WBC has never been below 1.1. My platelets were very low. Usually in the 20k's. it's taken 2 years for platelets to start up. They are in the 80k's now. But I've been on chemo all that time.
Male Age 53. Dx CC with numerous liver mets 6/23/12. Colon res 6/24/12. Started folfox 7/24/12. Added avastin 8/27/12. CT 12/27/12 still showing shrink. Took 17 rounds of FOLFOX. Then 5-FU + Avastin. Switched to Irinotecan for 1 yr. CEA rose to >400. Switched to Vectibix 2/18/15. CEA decreasing. Scans show some growth in liver mets. Lung Mets stable to shrinking.
https://www.facebook.com/michael.stults2/about?ref=home_edit_profile§ion=work
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Re: Low WBC count
Thank you for your replies.
Senora is slated to have another blood test on Thursday. The docs want to see how her body responds to the cessation of the Xeloda. They hope her white blood cell count will increase without additional meds. And she is glad to get a break! I just hope that this does not cause a problem down the road with respect to her long term prognosis.
I am glad she is not teaching! She is fatigued, but otherwise OK. All other blood counts are within normal range.
They are also moving her off the injectable med for the blood clot to Coumadin.
thanks again! the journey continues...
Senora is slated to have another blood test on Thursday. The docs want to see how her body responds to the cessation of the Xeloda. They hope her white blood cell count will increase without additional meds. And she is glad to get a break! I just hope that this does not cause a problem down the road with respect to her long term prognosis.
I am glad she is not teaching! She is fatigued, but otherwise OK. All other blood counts are within normal range.
They are also moving her off the injectable med for the blood clot to Coumadin.
thanks again! the journey continues...
7/14 Mrs. Wu dx rectal cancer T3N0M0
completed CRT 10/29/14
Filter placed in vena cava for clot 1/18/15
Resection and temp ileostomy 1/22/15
2/4/15 path report T2N0M0
6/22/15 flex sig. Reversal 7/24/15 obstructed bowel 9/3/15
4/9/18. NED
completed CRT 10/29/14
Filter placed in vena cava for clot 1/18/15
Resection and temp ileostomy 1/22/15
2/4/15 path report T2N0M0
6/22/15 flex sig. Reversal 7/24/15 obstructed bowel 9/3/15
4/9/18. NED
Re: Low WBC count
As a colon cancer patient...I had low WBC during my last four months of Chemo. I would go in on my odd week...and get a shot on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. To be ready for my week of chemo, I never needed to take a break. Though I did have bouts of fatigue
61 y/o female @ DX...........
T3N0M1
6/13 DX- stage 4
Sigmoid colon cancer.
One met to lung
7/13 colon resection
8/13 lung resection
7/17 four years....NED
8/18 five years....NED
MELANOMA
63 y/o @ DX
6/15 stage 2a
7/15 surgery on arm
7/15 NED
4/16 recurrance
5/16 remove metastasis from back
5/16. Started immunotherapy
8/16 discontinue treatment
7/18...PET scan...NED
T3N0M1
6/13 DX- stage 4
Sigmoid colon cancer.
One met to lung
7/13 colon resection
8/13 lung resection
7/17 four years....NED
8/18 five years....NED
MELANOMA
63 y/o @ DX
6/15 stage 2a
7/15 surgery on arm
7/15 NED
4/16 recurrance
5/16 remove metastasis from back
5/16. Started immunotherapy
8/16 discontinue treatment
7/18...PET scan...NED
-
Don.in.Dallas
- Posts: 179
- Joined: Sun Aug 31, 2014 10:43 pm
- Location: Dallas, Texas USA
Re: Low WBC count
I am half way through FOLFOX. On two occasions my treatment was delayed by one week to allow WBC and Platelets to increase in count. My onc explained that an occasional one week delay does not diminish the efficacy of treatment.
Señora Wu seems to be in good hands.
Best wishes.
Señora Wu seems to be in good hands.
Best wishes.
Male 56 at DX 05/14
05/14 Resection, 3.2cm sigmoid CRC Stage IIIb, 2/17 nodes, T3N1M0
06/14 PET scan clear, portacath install
06/14 Begin FOLFOX6 12x, End 01/15
09/20 Still NED!
----
Previous: Laryngeal cancer
33 x rad
NED since 12/09
05/14 Resection, 3.2cm sigmoid CRC Stage IIIb, 2/17 nodes, T3N1M0
06/14 PET scan clear, portacath install
06/14 Begin FOLFOX6 12x, End 01/15
09/20 Still NED!
----
Previous: Laryngeal cancer
33 x rad
NED since 12/09
Re: Low WBC count
At MSKCC, they recommend taking a Claritin antihistamine the day before, the day of and the day after a Neulasta shot prevents side effects from occurring. So far, after 4 Neulasta treatments it works -no side effects felt.
Leslie
Leslie
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