What a blood test can tell you
When someone is undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer, a lot hinges on the blood test results that precede each chemotherapy session. Low counts can indicate serious side effects, including fatigue, bruising, and vulnerability to infection -- and can also mean that treatment must be postponed while his body heals.
Complete blood counts, or CBCs, are routinely performed during chemotherapy and other cancer treatments to check the number of each type of blood cell circulating in the body. This test is also called a hemogram.
White blood cells, or neutrophils, fight infection; red blood cells, also known as erythrocytes, pick up oxygen in the lungs and carry it to the tissues. CBCs note any shortage of red blood cells, which is the definition of anemia and leads to low oxygen levels in the blood. In addition, CBCs count platelets, which are components of red blood cells that enable blood to clot.
- Low red blood count = fatigue, low energy
- Low platelets = bruising and bleeding
- Low white blood count = susceptibility to infection
What are normal ranges for CBCs?
These vary a bit depending on the lab, so the ranges that follow are guidelines rather than absolutes. Be sure to ask for a copy of the CBC each time it's performed, and look at the lab results sheet for the normal range for that lab. Still, there are some general rules of thumb:
Red blood cells (RBC)
Normal for men: 4.5 to 6.2 million per microliter (a single drop)
Normal for women: 4.2 to 5.4 million per microliter
White blood cells
Normal for men and women: 3,700 to 10,000 per microliter
Lowest level at which someone is safe from infection: 1,000
Platelets
Normal range for men and women: 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter
Lowest level at which someone's blood can still clot normally: 100,000
Level at which there's a risk of spontaneous bleeding: 50,000
Level at which bleeding can become life-threatening: 5,000
It is very helpful to know your blood counts. It can help explain why we feel a certain way. And don't be afraid to ask for a print out.
Learning more about red and white blood cells. Never knew much about platelets before but now understand how it works. Thanks.
Informative!
Hi, I had my second course of chemo last week (it was worse than the first one) but the nurse had to check with the consultant that it was ok to give to me because my platelet count was too high! what would cause that? and is it dangerous?