White cells & chemo

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I have just started adjuvant chemotherapy… I had 30% of my upper left lung removed due to stage 1 cancer and lymph nodes removed during the operation showed cancerous cells .. so I was offered treatment if I wanted it.
I am having 4 rounds of treatment over 21 day periods and I’m told it is aggressive chemotherapy.

I understand that my white cell count will take a dip during this process and I was wondering if there is anything I can take or do (or not do) to keep my white cells from going too low so that my treatment dates won’t be delayed.

thank you

Pats

Ursula- Macmillan 4 days ago

Hi Pats14769be2, 

Thanks for getting in touch, and welcome to the online community

My name is Ursula and I’m one of the cancer information nurse specialists on the Macmillan support line. I see that you’ve joined our lung cancer forum. I really hope you find it a helpful and supportive space.

I am sorry to read of your lung cancer diagnosis and hope you are recovering well from surgery. I see that you have just started adjuvant treatment, and that you are scheduled to have four cycles of chemotherapy. It is understandable to have questions around how cancer treatments can affect your blood counts and in turn your immune system.

Chemotherapy reduces the number of white blood cells produced by the bone marrow. This can affect the immune system, as it reduces your body's defences against infection during and after treatment. Chemotherapy is one of the most common reasons for reduced immunity.

You have said that your chemotherapy will be given in 21-day cycles. This means your white blood cell count is likely to be at its lowest midway between treatments, which is around 7 to 14 days after having chemotherapy. It can vary slightly depending on the drugs used, but this is when you are particularly at risk of getting an infection. You may hear this referred to as the ‘nadir’. After the nadir, the number of white blood cells should increase steadily and return to normal before your next cycle of chemotherapy.

Although you cannot eliminate the risk of immunity dropping at this time, there are steps you can take to help reduce the risk of picking up an infection. You can read more about our tips for avoiding infection here, and information on food safety when your immunity is low here.

Your chemotherapy team will be monitoring your bloods regularly, and if they were concerned they would advise you on actions to support with that which might involve G-CSF injections, or a pause in treatment until you recover, or occasionally a hospital admission to offer supportive care.

I hope this has been helpful, but please don’t hesitate to get back in touch if you need any further information or support.

Best wishes and take care,

Ursula 

You can speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.  

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White cells & chemo