Low white and red blood cells

Hi sp1993233875 dont apologise for asking questions thats what we are here for. I personally didnt experience this so cant help but im sure the doctors will be keeping a close eye on things. Hopefully someone on here who has experienced the same will pick up on your post. Xx

Hello sp1993233875 

As Bungle says, don't worry in the least about the questions, that's exactly what the forum is for.

She will be having regular blood tests so that they can step in if the various levels go too high or too low, they will be keeping an eye on things and she may find that by the next test things are ok again.

Most chemotherapies can have some sort of effect which is why regular chemo is invariably accompanied by blood tests.

Fingers crossed that everything goes back to normal

Irene xx  

Thanks so much Irene! Has you heard of situations where it’s been low then gone back to normal? Really hoping that’s the case otherwise I think they will pause treatment. I am due to have a baby mid February so we’re particularly keen for the treatment to have finished asap. Thank you 

Hi, I am completely unqualified medically but my understanding is that it is the chemo which attacks the red and white blood cells, and your body takes time to reproduce more, so yes they do get back to normal as your body recovers. If it happens too often, they might space the chemo out a little to allow your mum's body more time to repair, but she should recover fully when the chemo stops and these levels get back to normal. I think in the meantime she just needs to be very careful not to pick up any infections as her resistance will be quite low.

I think you should have a conversation with your mum's medical team and ask them how best to deal with this, and they should be able to reassure you that her body will make more red and white blood cells. 

Wishing you all the best for your Mum. Bet she can't wait for the baby!

Thanks so much - that is helpful! Yes I think it’s the chemo. Not clear to me how/ whether they can build up while she’s still taking daily capecitabine. Plan to talk to medical team today. Thanks very much 

Yes, that's a fair point. They might just monitor her. There are people here who have had to come off chemo completely - perhaps someone will chip in - and still had a successful outcome, as I understand it is the radiotherapy which really does the work in this treatment.

Please let us know how she gets on x

My white cell count went from a high of 7.9 before treatment started to a low of 3.3 about half way through treatment. It hovered between 4 and 5 for the rest of treatment (I finished end of October) and I’ve not been tested since.  Doctors were not at all concerned and kept telling me my bloods were all really good. I tried to eat more protein and spinach, which may have helped a bit. I think they look at all the results in the round so I wouldn’t worry too much about a single low result in the whole run of tests. x

Thanks so much - that’s interesting that it got to its lowest at the mid point of treatment. Thank you! 

Hello sp1993233875 

I am relieved that someone else has shared their experience of this, it didn't happen to me or if it did they didn't tell me about it.  And as it has been pointed out, the radiotherapy is the main part of the treatment.  I am interested in what the team say.

A new baby - something lovely for you all to look forward to once all this is over with your Mum!

Irene xx

Yes I really hope so! I will keep you all posted thanks again