Shana wrote:Hi Everyone,
I contacted the Dr on call this morning to report my unrelenting diarrhea, she didn't offer much more than I am taking now other than increasing the dosage.
She then commented that the lab contacted her yesterday to report that my WBC was at 600. I asked her what we could do about that and she said it was from the chemo and probably rise on my off week but to be very careful of germs and report any fever etc. I am going in tomorrow to get hydration but no chemo and also get tested for infection in bowels just to rule that out.
I was neutropenic in January and ended up in hospital for an extended period and I'm so paranoid of going through that again. She didn't seem overly concerned about my WBC being so low, like it was expected. I asked her how it could be raised and she said it couldn't. She is covering for my oncologist who is on vacation so I'm feeling a bit wary of her casual approach.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Shana
You were neutropenic in January and now again?
You on a second dose of chemo after surgery or what?
I've been neutropenic for 12 weeks straight. It takes me about 2-3 hours a day just to disinfect everything, wash hands ALL the time then slather on antibacterial hand sanitizer.
Somehow, I've avoided infection - all that work seems to be paying off.
Anyhow - yes there is something they can do about it. It's called growth factor injections.
Neupogen, Neulesta, Granix, Zarxio are the most common injections.
I've had a total of 11 incections from round 2 to current round 6 of folfox.
Bad thing is these growth factors also have the side effect of reducing platelets - which OXI already does.
So now on top of Neutropenia I'm suffering Thrombocytopenia.
Is your total white blood count 600 or just the ANC? Neutrophils.
I've been as low as 440 on the neutrophils. Usually after 3/4 injections I'm boosted to 2000+ neutrophils and like 15000 total WBC.
This boost got me for a few treatments, but after oxi it plummets fast back into neutropenia,
Most likely i'll be delayed treatment 7 due to low platelets.
I've posted a link on a few other threads about how to approach neutropenia. Look them up.
There is a lot of info in there that most cancer centers and onc's aren't even up to snuff on.
Lots of do's and don'ts about how to keep infection free. Like not eating anything raw, and not nuts, shell fish, etc..
I ended up tossing a lot of food away cause I simply could not eat it. Also don't drink any fluid that has been sitting out for more than 2 hours.
Even bottled water.
best wishes