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11-22-2008, 01:51 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Illinois
Posts: 25
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Low white blood cell count?
Hi all-
I am currently on my last 5 rounds of Herceptin and am taking Femara. No side effects with the Femara and only the runny nose witih Herceptin.
I had blood work done with my Primary Dr. and the white cells are only 2.5
I remember back in the Chemo months having to deal with neutropenic fever, hospital, hazmat suits, the whole deal!
Does anyone out there deal with low white cells?
Anything we should be doing? Dangerous stuff?
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11-22-2008, 03:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: "Love never fails."
Posts: 5,809
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Hi,
I don't remember the name of the stuff. But I was given a shot each time my [white] blood cell count was low. It made my legs feel like having lead in them - very 'heavy' feeling.
Check with your medical provider. Be positive about your treatment so they will do what you want done.
__________________
Jackie07
http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/doctors-letter-patient-newly-diagnosed-cancer.html
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/MultiMedi...=114&trackID=2
NICU 4.4 LB
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IDC 1.2 cm Her2 +++ ER 5% R. Lmptmy SLNB+1 71703 6 FEC 33 R Tamoxifen
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3-11 Appendectomy - visually O.K., a lot of puss. Final path result - not cancer.
Start Vitamin D3 and Calcium supplement (600mg x2)
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"I WANT TO BE AN OUTRAGEOUS OLD WOMAN WHO NEVER GETS CALLED AN OLD LADY. I WANT TO GET SHARP EDGED & EARTH COLORED, TILL I FADE AWAY FROM PURE JOY." Irene from Tampa
Advocacy is a passion .. not a pastime - Joe
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11-22-2008, 04:20 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 3,142
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Low white blood cell count?
The name of the shot is Neulasta. However, you can also help yourself by eating more foods that benefit the immune system. The white blood cells are part of the immune system. Vegetables, fruits, various kinds of mushrooms all benefit the immune system and white blood count. Th supplement Echinecea also benefits the immune system and the white blood count, but with that supplement you should take short breaks once in awhile. You can get information on foods that benefit the immune system by doing an internet search on the subject. You may also be able to find books about it at your local library or bookstore.
Good luck. Stay strong.
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11-22-2008, 04:37 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 116
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Hi,
My white cells continued being low while on Herceptin. My oncologist was concerned but three months after finishing Herceptin my counts returned to normal. My white cell count is still barely within normal range but everything seems okay. Wishing you great health. Also try to get rest, it's important for the white cell count.
__________________
Melissa
04/06, (42), 2cm tumor, 7/13 nodes, one positive node under clavicle
mastectomy/reconstruction
grade 3, stage lllb, er-65+, pr-90+, her2+++(80%)
4/AC, 12wks TH then 6wks rads
40 wks herceptin, and tamoxifen.
onc test tamoxifen resistance = poor metabilizer
04/07 ooph & on arimidex
08/07 completed herceptin
04/2022 - 16 year survivor!
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11-23-2008, 02:10 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Melbourne Victoria
Australia
Posts: 330
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Reishi mushroom extract raises wbc
Immune Support made by Greeridge is a reishi mushroom extract that raises wbc. Worked for me!
Jackie (down under)
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11-23-2008, 09:56 AM
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#6
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Massachusetts
Posts: 22
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At the begining of my treatment my chest port became infected and I had to be hospitalized. My white cell count was very low, they gave me a nuetrogen shot. ( I think that's what it was called), that brought my white count back up to the normal range. Since then I have been getting weekly acupuncture and all of my blood work has been normal. I just finished 12 weeks of taxol/herceptin last week. Yeah! Good Luck!
__________________
Maria
6/2008 1.1cm,er/pr-,her2+
7/2008 lumpectomy,neg. nodes
8/2008 port
8/2008 1st of 12 taxol/herceptin
Just getting started...
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11-23-2008, 11:09 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: South East Wisconsin
Posts: 3,431
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Maria,
Neupogen
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11-23-2008, 12:26 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Alaska
Posts: 2,018
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Throwing this in for consideration
Hi,
Before doing CAF x 6 followed by rads in 2002, my WBC was on the high end of normal. While in treatment I knew it would be very low quite often, and that it might take a while after finishing treatment to become more normal. But even without ever receiving Herceptin, at 2 years out my count was still below normal. It continued that way for several years. The more weight I lost, the more I was able to exercise, but weight loss was extremely slow and it took until my 6th year out to lose 20 pounds and feel lighter on my feet. My WBC is still on the low end of normal, and sometimes just below normal, but I think the exercise might be helping.
Anyway, since I never had Herceptin, probably the continuing low count is due to the chemotherapy and rads.
A.A.
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11-23-2008, 05:42 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Cordoba, Mexico
Posts: 672
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I would also get Neupogen for my low count white cells. Eat a lot of green vegetables (spinach) and took Ferranina which active ingredient is ferrous fumarate.
__________________
Dx. June 30th, 2006 at age 43
Lumpectomy rt breast
2.2 cm tumor, 13 nodes all negative
ER-PR+,her2+++
6 FAC
32 Rads
Dx. Lung fibrosis due to radiation
Ended 1 year herceptin in March, 2008
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03-12-2010, 11:38 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 56
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
Hi, I did a search and came across this old thread. I know a lot of women have the low white blood cells while on chemo & herceptin together. Mine is continuing to stay low, though, even though only on herceptin now. It was 3.8, then 5.6, and then yesterday's treatment it was back down to 2.6. I'm getting worried. Did anyone else's WBC stay low during herceptin only (I saw Melissa's post above that said hers did--anyone else?)
__________________
Diagnosed 7/09 with 7mm IDC ER weakly +, PR -, Her2+
TCH chemo 8/09-12/09
Ooph/hysterectomy 4/10
Started Femara 6/10
Completed year of herceptin 10/11
Zometa 1/11 (2X/yr for 2yrs)
Hopefully nothing else!!!!
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03-24-2010, 11:49 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: western ma
Posts: 280
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
hi weety- i finished chemo back on 1/21/2010 and at that time my WBC was 4.8. last monday i got a CBC done and was startled to find out my WBC was down to 2.8 and i haven't had chemo in 2 months! in fact, it never dropped that low during my entire 4 months of chemo. i am over half-way through radiation right now but my radiation oncologist said it wasn't caused by radiation. if i am not in chemo.... and it's not caused by radiation, then why do i have it? i see several people got low WBC counts post-chemo. i guess i will start taking echinacea again (my rad onco said no supplements during radiation) because i don't feel like getting sick at this juncture. my oncologist didn't seem terribly concerned, but i like knowing why things happen and have no answers right now. the good news is that at my own insistence i got another CBC run this past monday and i have risen to 3.6 so at least that's a relief. they asked if i was fighting anything off but i never felt at all sick. i'm going to get another test on april 5 so i will re-post if i continue to hover low. i hope yours rises soon too. valerie
__________________
8/09 - IDC 1.8 cm triple positive, lumpectomy left breast
10/09 began chemo (taxotere & carboplatin) and weekly herceptin.
1/21/10 finished chemo, continued on herceptin every 3 weeks until 10/2010.
2/10 began 7 wks of radiation
6/10 mom dies of primary peritoneal ovarian cancer
8/10 got my last remaining ovary out
10/10 mammogram all clear
3/11 MRI shows 5 'spots' in right breast, largest 1 cm unidentifiable on US
needle biopsy proved the largest to be old inflamed cyst -phew!
7/10 switched to Arimidex
8/9 switched to Femara - allergic to arimidex
Femara made me lose hair quickly so switched to Aromasin
Aromasin made my hair fall out too and the bone pain was too much.
back on Tamoxifen 1/2013.
blood clot from trains and planes 5/2014 so on coumadin per onco for as long as i am on tamoxifen
tamoxifen was supposed to be up with my 5 yrs in may but my boyfriend was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer so i am staying on tamoxifen indefinitely because i want some ammo against BC, given the stress. lost my husband in only 10 wks in 2007 to stage 4 esophageal cancer.
cancer's screwing with another man i love
2/2016 - 6yrs in remission, off tamoxifen and off coumadin - yay!
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03-24-2010, 03:03 PM
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#12
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Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
Chemo is pretty hard on your counts and my guess is that now that you're not on neulasta or steroids, which can mask the damage of chemo, the true counts are showing up. I finished chemo in Nov. 2008 and Herceptin Aug 2009 and still run a WBC that's a little lower than normal, although it's occasionally popped up into normal range. I also noticed that when I had surgery it would dip down again so I'm going to see if it's come up now that I'm done with reconstruction. Check your ANC, this is the number that lets you know your infection fighting capabilities which is probably within normal limits and is why your onc does not seem overly concerned. This low WBC can go on for a few years and if you've had carbo, this may be the cause. I had TCH so I'm assuming it was carbo that caused the low WBC. I'm planning to start a mushroom supplement to see if this helps but other than that, I'm eating healthy foods, fruits, vegetables, etc.. If anyone has suggestions on mushroom supplements and a reliable source, please let me know. Hope this helps.
Sue
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03-24-2010, 05:57 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Stockton, NJ
Posts: 4,179
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
I get my mushroom supplements from Viable Herbal Solutions. I also get curcumin and cranberry there. They are fresh and an extremely reliable company.
http://www.viable-herbal.com/
__________________
Kind regards
Becky
Found lump via BSE
Diagnosed 8/04 at age 45
1.9cm tumor, ER+PR-, Her2 3+(rt side)
2 micromets to sentinel node
Stage 2A
left 3mm DCIS - low grade ER+PR+Her2 neg
lumpectomies 9/7/04
4DD AC followed by 4 DD taxol
Used Leukine instead of Neulasta
35 rads on right side only
4/05 started Tamoxifen
Started Herceptin 4 months after last Taxol due to
trial results and 2005 ASCO meeting & recommendations
Oophorectomy 8/05
Started Arimidex 9/05
Finished Herceptin (16 months) 9/06
Arimidex Only
Prolia every 6 months for osteopenia
NED 18 years!
Said Christopher Robin to Pooh: "You must remember this: You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem and smarter than you think"
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03-25-2010, 03:10 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,526
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
Hi everyone
Just wanted to chime in here regarding blood counts and herceptin. As you know I recently had a bone marrow aspirate due to low platelets. My white cell count was also low six months after taxotere and herceptin.I read that low counts can be a side effect of herceptin but my onc was not convinced and said he had never seen this before!! My aspirate was normal-thank the Lord but my counts are still on the low side. The haematologist my onc spoke to said that as blood cells contain growth factors it is entirely possible that herceptin can interfere with their production.
Hope this helps
Ellie
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03-25-2010, 07:08 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sardegna, Italy
Posts: 362
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
I have heard good things about the 'reishi mushroom extract " - but I have not found it here in Italy and I'm doing great - so not changing anything these days on my diet and nutrition front... my blood is normal the docs say. WHEW! But I would suggest you read two of my favorite books:
Cancer Battle Plan Sourcebook and Beating Cancer with Nutrition. (the last has a great CD that is an overview of the book and easy to listen to even in the car) but they both have helped me so much deal with strengthening the body so I can give it what it needs to battle the cancer.
Favorite Books:
- The Cancer Battle Plan Sourcebook (this is the updated version) - by David Frahm
- Crazy Sexy Cancer Survivor – by Kris Carr
- Beating Cancer with Nutrition – by Patrick Quillin PhD, RD, CNS
- Eat to Live – by Joel Fuhrman, MD
- The Gerson Therapy – The amazing nutritional program for cancer and other illnesses – by Charlotte Gerson and Morton Walker, DPM
Good luck - Karen
__________________
Karen Wheelhouse Age: 46
Facebook id: Karen Wheel
2-09 – Age 44 -Biopsy-Cancer
3-09 – Right Quadrantectomy. Clear margins.
3 lymph nodes taken - all clear
Tumor results: Stage 1, 1.5 cm, Her2 +++
Est positive 80% - Prog 10% - Ki67 postive 30%
4-09 – Became a vegan! pH balance of body - cancer can't grow in neutral pH!
4-09 Started Herceptin & Chemo (9 weeks of Navelbine *)
* FYI - when coupled with Herceptin has the same results as more toxic chemo. No brainer!
8-09 - 30 RADS
9-09 - Said NO to hormone therapy
4-10 Finished Herceptin!!!!
7-10 PET Scan & other exams .... All clear! YIPPEE!!!!
11-10 Breast, organ Ultrasounds and lung x-rays all clear no changes ... NED!
2-25-2011 --- 2 years from surgery and NED!!!!!!
7-2011 Clear bone scan and full body and head MRI! NED! NED! NED! ;-)[/SIZE]
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04-05-2010, 12:08 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 56
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
Thanks for all the responses about the low blood counts. I have since had another CBC and my white blood cells are just barely within the normal limits at just 4.1, but they have gone up. Platelets went up a bit,too. Hopefully they will both continue with this trend. My hemoglobin doesn't seem to be affected--was 12.6 and now is 13.1. ( I think normal is over 12)
__________________
Diagnosed 7/09 with 7mm IDC ER weakly +, PR -, Her2+
TCH chemo 8/09-12/09
Ooph/hysterectomy 4/10
Started Femara 6/10
Completed year of herceptin 10/11
Zometa 1/11 (2X/yr for 2yrs)
Hopefully nothing else!!!!
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02-11-2011, 08:15 PM
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#17
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 1
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
Hi, I am new to this. I just started my radiation therapy, and my herceptin is every 3 weeks. Had my first radiation and herceptin yesterday, they took my cbc and my wbc was at 3.7, my rbc was low, hemoglobin low and something else was low. I am not worried, but was glad I read the replies on this site. I am looking forward to everything getting normal, hopefully soon.
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02-11-2011, 08:48 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Elizabethton, TN
Posts: 418
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Re: Low white blood cell count?
I have finished my chemo and radiation treatments but my wbc, rbc, hemaglobin and hematacrit numbers are still low. It seems I have developed macrocytic (used to be pernicious) anemia and my onc checked my B12 levels which are low. Now I'm on B-12 shots which I give myself. This is probably going to be chronic so I'll be doing the shots long-term. Not a problem at all and I have had more energy since starting the shots. If the low counts persist you may want to ask your onc to check the B-12.
__________________
Joni -64 yrs old -
3/01/10: found lump in rt.breast
3/12/10: mammogram/ultrasnd/biopsy-invasive bc & DCIS; 2 tumors (2cm er-/pr-/HER2-& 1.8 cm er-/pr-/HER2+); grade 3;poorly differentiated
3/24/10:sent.node biopsy clear
3/31/10:bi-lateral mx.;atypical ductal hyperplasia-lft side
4/21/10:wound revision-infection/scarring 4/28/10:seromas both sides
5/21/10:port installed,TCH chemo (6 x 3 wks); Herc,-1yr; 33 rad tx after chemo
07/2010: port not working-2nd port didnt'work;3rd port opposite side.
07/2010: 2 weeks after 3rd port surgery, threw 3 pulm. emboli-IVC filter installed; warfarin
08/2010: hospitalizations w/3 of chemos; decision to stop after 4th-on to radiation in Oct 2010;Herc cont.
12/03/2010 - finished 33 rads Hooray!! cont. Herc. every 3 wks
4/2011 - pneumonia ??? Nope-radiation pneumonitis. No more Herc.
5/2011 - NED!!! port out.
8/2011 - clean PET & CT scans.Still NED
7/2012 - Still NED/very blessed.
2/2013 - 6 mos checkup-all clear. CA2729 down frm 13 to 11.
Last edited by NanaJoni; 02-11-2011 at 08:49 PM..
Reason: misspelled word
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