Low neutrophils - and I’m only 1 round in.

Hi lizzieannie,

I had Folfox and this happened to me. The Folfox cycles were 2 weekly and the 2nd cycle was delayed by 2 weeks due to my neutrophils not recovering quickly enough. From the 2nd cycle onwards the Oxaliplatin was reduced to 80% and this seemed to do the trick as my neutrophils recovered OK. I also had Filgrastim injections (to give myself) for 5 days from day 3 to help my neutrophils recover.

I think it’s quite common and the chemo doses can be tweaked until they get it right for you and maybe this is what your team may do.

Try not to worry too much, I know it’s easier said than done; you certainly don’t want treatment when your body isn’t ready to cope with it.

Hope you have a good weekend too.
Best Wishes
Net77

Thanks so much for your replyNet77 and that's reassuring to know you had it after first cycle too. I really thought it would come later, if at all. Anyhow, I'll see what happens tomorrow. You're right about not wanting treatment if my body can't cope with it and I did have pretty long lasting side effects from the Oxaliplaitin so a reduction might not be a bad thing. See what they say tomorrow.

I think I'm just fed up with the whole thing to be honest. It's my birthday today and part of the plan was for my son and his family to visit and have cake this afternoon. My 6 year old grand daughter has a cold so that's scuppered. Probably worse because it's on top of all the cancelled things due to covid these last 18 months. Anyhow, my sister and her husband came down from Aberdeen yesterday (with aforementioned cake) and my husband has been lovely throughout so I'm going to count my blessings and stop feeling sorry for myself. We are off to the Botanics for a wander, they are absolutely beautiful and a favourite place of mine - a visit there always raises the spirits. Thanks again for replying, appreciate it.

best wishes

Beth

Hi Lizzieannie, the mention of Oxalaplatten makes me shiver as I refused the Pic-line and took it all in the back of my hands...I have now got a pic-line in for the Folfiri which I am currently getting. Just don’t drink anything cold with the Ox. With both lots of chemo I had low white blood cells and treatment was delayed a couple of weeks each time. In my current treatment my drugs have been reduced to 80% same as Net77 below. 

Hopefully you will be up and running chemo again soon and get the treatment over with. The Oncs will try their best to make it work for you. Stick with it. Good luck RM. 

Thank you for replying and it is reassuring to know it happened to you and you still got through it. it. Just have to see what happens tomorrow- not really having much control over things takes a bit of getting used to though

I had the cold sensitivity for what seemed like ages after my first IV  if Oxaliplatin. 10 days before I could drink room temp water! It is a horrible drug but hopefully zapping any stray cells in my bloodstream .  

Hello again Beth (lizzieannie). Belated Happy Birthday – I hope you had a good day and the trip to the Botanics lifted your spirits; I find nature helps me on dark days. It’s rubbish when plans go astray especially when you’d been looking forward to seeing your son and family, but hope you enjoyed your Birthday cake with your sister, her husband & your husband. (We lived in Aberdeen for 24 years we’re are now back in England, but I do still sometimes miss the countryside up there).
Oxaliplatin can have some horrible side effects, I tried to look at it as a freind to zap any micro cancer cells and the bad days will pass, be easy on yourself and rest if you need to. Try and focus on the big celebration you can have with everyone once your chemotherapy has finished, that’s what helped get me through.

Enjoy the rest of your birthday weekend & fingers crossed for bloods tomorrow.
Janet (Nett77)

OMG... we have to inject ourselves?

I haven't got my treatment plan yet.. but this is a shock. We have to find veins to inject ourselves. 

Really feel for you. To stop treatment so soon in, must be a disappointment. I would feel the same. I understand why, but it's like I just want the intruder zapped out of me as soon as possible. 

I hope you managed to salvage a good time for your birthday. 

Take care 

Hi Bolero. The injections are subcutaneous (the fatty layer between skin and muscle), not painful at all.  It's amazing what you can do when you have to

Thank you for that..  I appreciate you responding. It all helps. 

Thank you so much. I did have a good day yesterday and the Botsnics certainly cheered me up. I’m in Edinburgh and we are very lucky that there are so many parks, riverside walks etc nearby. I miss Aberdeenshire though, but ill look forward to a visit once this is over. Got bloods taken today so