Neutropenic

Hi Lee_L Yes it’s a common occurrence, I had 1 of my sessions delayed by a fortnight and my white cell count had picked up a bit by the time the next session came around. My white cell count was always borderline but the surgeon mentioned that it wasn’t great before hand so I scraped through a couple of times - it still isn’t great 8 years on so I think it must just be a thing with me! Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be anything you can take or eat to boost it although I think there are some kind of injections that the hospital can give you but I was never offered them.

I also had my dosage reduced after a couple of sessions and then the oxaliplatin dropped after 5 or 6 I think. Remember that you’ve had the tumour removed - the cancer is gone - this is just the belt and braces. Think of the tumour as being a dandelion. You’ve dug it out by the root and found a couple of stray dandelion clocks that you’ve also removed so it shouldn’t come back but you give the area a good blast of weed killer (chemo) to be on the safe side. 

Hope this helps reassure you a bit

Take care

Karen x

Hi Lee_L ,  sorry to hear your treatment has been delayed. Hopefully the 10 days rest will enable your body to recover enough to cope with the next round of chemo. 
I’ve heard that they give you the absolute maximum dose at first so they do have some room to reduce the dose but maintain effectiveness.

My OH is nearly at rest week for Cycle 2 (of 4) and previous blood tests have shown his Neutrophils dropping but what level makes them stop treatment? 

Sending big hugs - Bx 

Hi Lee,

Sorry your chemotherapy has been delayed.  It’s quite a common occurrence but I know how stressful and frustrating it is.

It’s a great analogy Karen has made in her last paragraph.

I was prescribed 6 cycles of FOLFOX on fortnightly schedule and I had it delayed a number of times due to low white cell count, even though I was given Accofil (Filgrastin) to inject for 5 days after each chemo to help with neutropenia.  It has to be kept in fridge and can be a bit painful to inject and makes your bones ache.  I don’t know how useful they were as I don’t know what outcome would have been without the injections.

I also had my dosage reduced after the first session (by 20% if I remember rightly) and was advised to stop the chemo after 5^th cycle due to other issues.  Despite this I’m still cancer free (nearly 4 years later).

I was concerned when my chemo was stopped before completing the last cycle however, my oncologist told me that you gain the most benefit in the first 2 cycles.  I have the percentages he gave me somewhere but can’t put my hands on them at the moment.

Hope this helps reassure you a little.

Best wishes

Net77

Thanks Kareno62; Bella12 and Net77 

Thank you for your positive responses.  

Because I’ve got peripheral neuropathy from my last cancer the chemo dose for Oxy is already at 50%.  And my chemo isn’t belt and braces - I have positive CTDNA which means chemo is essential because of an 80% chance of recurrence/mets. This is why I’m so concerned.  I also have primary kidney cancer - what a mess.

I had the filgrastin injections when I had breast cancer and boy were they painful in my bones.  I ended up In hospital a couple of times. I was feeling quite positive after 2 cycles and determined to power through but this has thrown me.  I’m not good with medications so chemo is feeling like a mountain at the moment. Hopefully when I’m feeling a bit better I’ll give myself a kick up the bum and get on with it all again but today is not a good day.  I guess we all have them.  

Xx

For real, we all have those blue days and days when we feel very pessimistic. It's all part of the cancer roller-coaster. 

My dose was reduced due to peripheral neuropathy and then delayed due to neutropenia. As I recall I had a bit of a meltdown when it was delayed. Sure I'd seen others get delayed but it was different when it happened to me. 

It will get better. 

Susan13 Thank you for your kind words. 
You’re absolutely right.  Yesterday was a meltdown/pessimistic day. My son came over later and we went for a little walk in the sunshine and I’m feeling better for it.  Today I’m trying to focus on all the things I can get done in a week without chemo side effects.

Thanks all for the support x