Confused about white blood cell count

Hi, your counts seem really good to me. Mine were 8.7 before I started treatment but down to 2.5 just before final chemo.  And yes 4 and above is in the normal range.  I think re infection risk they also look at neutrophil count (part of WBC). I wasn’t given any advice when I finished, and it’s been more about what I felt up to and when, although I was still wary about friends who had colds etc to start with.

it’s good news what they are saying to you, so enjoy your trips out!

Hi Beepeep, I didn’t have chemo but had radio and brachy in 2022. My total white cell count was 4.5 before my hysterectomy, 5.6 afterwards and then has been between 3.5-4.0 ever since, with it usually being the lymphocytes or neutrophils slightly letting the side down! When it went down to 3.5 my GP had me monitored and I had 6 weekly repeats for a little while, till it crept up to 4. Since then at my annual checks it’s been 4 or just below but he says that’s normal for me and my age (I’m 66 this month) so I’m not worried (and can’t remember the last time I was at all unwell - I think I had a bit of a cold almost a year ago) 

Thank you for replying Waidh. What is WBC please? 

Hi Beepeep

My white cell count was around 6 before having radiotherapy + Cisplatin in February/March and dropped slightly during that period. 
It recovered slightly when that finished but then when I went on to Carboplatin/Paclitaxel it dropped significantly and at its lowest it was 0.8. The last reading was 2.6 in 1st July. That chemo finished on 2nd July and I’m waiting to see what the reading was on 6th August when I had my first review appointment.

I have been out and about these last couple of weeks even going on the train which I haven’t done in months. I haven’t caught anything yet

Hi there - that is so good to read thank you and very glad you haven’t caught much from others . Very pleased for you . I guess it will be Covid and flu jabs to think about soon  .
Very reassuring for me so just need to have a good taking to myself now and start doing things I love . 

Hi Beepeep

With infection risks it is the level of neutrophils that is most important. 

Your white blood cell (which includes neutrophils) is fine.

It means that if you do pick up and infection, that your body should be able to deal with it. 

The emergency card is to address the risk of sepsis. The risk is if the neutrophils drop below 1 and you become neutropenic. By the sounds of it you are well above that and have been all the way through chemo.  Whilst neutropenic your body can find it more difficult to fight infection and if you do get an infection then sepsis (overwhelming infection) could develop quickly. The idea of the card is that if you do show signs of infection, you call the hospital and they will get you in and give you checks and IV antibiotics quickly- before any infection develops. 

I can understand your anxiety about being around people at the moment and it seems a good plan to start slowly by going to the cinema and building up from there. You can of course still pick up infections- I managed to catch covid! but your bloods are showing that your body would be able to react and deal with the infection. If you do pick something up, whilst you still are in the period written on your card- then do get checked straight away. 

I know for me it did feel scary to start going out and its natural but I tried to think of it as starting to expose myself to germs etc bit by bit would let my body start to build up a bit of resistance. 

Jane

Sorry, White Blood Count

Yep, I managed to get another Covid booster on the last day of spring one in mid June, which was 3 weeks almost after last chemo. 

Yes it is funny isn’t it that we don’t get any advice at the end of chemo on how much we should be doing. I hate letting friends down by cancelling on the day , but definitely fed up now of doing much less . Resting is necessary but doesn’t make us feel particularly cheerful like a nice view or fresh air and sunshine etc . 

Thank you Jane - I shall go and look up neutrophils as sounds like i have been over simplifying my immunity . 
I hadn’t realised by emergency card had a date on so will check that too. 
I can’t thank everyone enough for filling in my gaps of information .