Carboplatin/paclitexal 28 day cycle. Low neutrophils.

Oh no! So sorry to hear that but better safe than sorry. Do you know what your numbers were? I’m a week behind you - I’m currently on my week off at the end of cycle 1. Before my last treatment my white blood cell count was 2.7 (lowest it’s ever been) and my neutrophils were 2. They treated me at that level. I’m hoping that my week off will bump them up a bit. I suspect that for you they will perhaps just adjust the dose, or they may give you a blood transfusion to boost them and then treat you. I’d probably ring my CRN team and ask them what happens in this situation. Then they will also be able to help you chase for prompt decisions. Keep us posted. xx

Sorry to hear this has happened Fellsider, but I am very confident they will find a way to manage this.

I think I remember Irene having her dose reduced and some treatments delayed. She will update you when she sees your post.

I hope moving forward they can get your bloods done quicker, so you don't have that gruelling wait.

Keep us updated.

Ally xx

Just remembered, I get my carboplatin and Taxol all in one go. I had my second IV on the 9th, hospital stay that evening, then discharged the following day.

I am given a syringe of Neulasta, which is injected under the skin the following day. This stimulates white blood cells, I feel like I have very bad flu, every joint aches and after 2 days back to normal.

Could this be an option to get your white blood cells stimulated.

I also eat a lot of specific foods, before, during and after chemo. If you need any ideas, I am happy to share.

Ally

My cycles are week 1 carboplatin And paclitaxel weeks 2  and 3 just paclitaxel then a week off and cycle 2 begins again. Be very interested to know your ideas on boosting my white cell count.

Hello Fellsider 

My heart goes out to you. I vividly remember the sickening heart thump when I was told the same after my first week, that my neutrophils were too low to have the next session the next day.  However, I saw my oncologist and she was unconcerned, said it was my body reacting to the chemo and my dose was reduced by 25% plus I was given filgrastim which I had to self-inject in the stomach.  Sounds awful but it really was painless.  I am sorry, I can't remember how many injections I had, but after that I never had another session cancelled.  Actually, I had completely forgotten until now one session when the nurse was trying to insert the cannula and I ended up passing out.  It was as if all the alarm bells had gone at once, I ended up on a drip.

I am sure treatment will continue, perhaps with a slight difference from the original format, but hopefully effective.  I am so sorry that Retifinlimab is unavailable in the UK; apparently it has to go through the formality of NICE even after extensive testing in the UK and this could take a couple of years.

I really do hope that your next session goes ahead as planned - please let me know what happens.

Irene xx

Thank You Irene. That is so reassuring.  I do hope that I can expect something smilar. As always you give such good calming advice xxx