After surgery (hysterectomy), the surgeon suggested "for insurance" 25 days of radiation and 5 sessions of once-a-week low-dose chemotherapy. After 22 (so far) days of radiation and 4 sessions of chemotherapy (the 5th was cancelled since the surgeon did not want to "push my body" any further), the blood counts (WBC, RBC, Hgb, Hct, etc.) dropped. The surgeon did not mention any supplements to help raise the blood counts and said they would come back up on their own. Does anyone know if this is normal and how long it takes to get rid of these "side effects"!
low blood counts after radiation and chemotherapy
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Missy responded 2 months ago :
Hello! Welcome to Caring's community. I'm glad you found us and posted!
I'm so sorry you're having to go through this treatment. I'm sure it's no picnic. :-(
I am certainly no expert on cancer or its treatment, I will tell you that I often hear about blood counts dropping and the need to recover from treatment and even delay additional sessions until the come up.
You may want to take a look at this set of articles, tools and news that relates to the side effects of cancer treatment. Hopefully you'll find some helpful information in there. I'm also hopeful that someone who has "been there done that" will post to help you out.
Keep us updated! And take care!
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LauraL responded 2 months ago :
Hi! Welcome to the Cancer support group.
Missy has already given you a great link to utilize, so I won't repeat that, but I'm hoping someone who has been in your shoes can give you a more specific review of how these things go.
Take care of yourself, and let us know what you learn.
~Laura
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Melanie Haiken responded 2 months ago :
Hi there, low blood counts are a common side effect of cancer treatment because chemotherapy drugs affect the bone marrow where new blood cells are produced. Your doctor's right, you usually need to wait for blood counts to come back up on their own. That said, there are things you can ask your doctor about. Make sure you've been given drugs called growth factors, that help your body make new white and red blood cells. Also, if your red blood cells or platelets are too low, you can have a transfusion; however that's usually only if your counts are very low and not coming back up on their own. Rest as much as you can, eat well, and take good care of yourself so your body can heal itself.
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Ohiogirl responded 29 days ago :
Hi .. I am a 4 yr cancer survivor...I have stage 3 ovarian cancer and have gone thru chemo for 3 yrs off and on..I've never had rads but I do know that the low blood counts you are experiencing are very common with chemotherapy..it takes me about 3 weeks to get my counts back up...there is nothing much to do about this sorry to say..it has to just come back up on its own..Good Wishes
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Missy responded 26 days ago :
Hey Ohiogirl,
Welcome to Caring's groups! I just read your profile and I'm so glad you decided to post. I'll bet that sharing your experiences, just as you've done in the previous post, will be really hopeful to others in our community. Thank you so much!
