CBC results after chemo

[KMcD1124]

I had my first round of chemo 1 week ago. Cytoxan & Taxotere.   Ran a fever of 100.7 yesterday, called the doc.  Had a blood test this am.  The nurse called and said that the normal range for whatever they were looking at was 1.5-7.2.  Before chemo mine was 6.9   now I am at   0.4  They put me on Levaquin.  My question, because their office is closed... what are they measuring?...  I was feeling pretty yucky & neglected to ask.

[PaulMD]

Hi.

With this figures, I could surmise that the nurse is talking about your white blood counts or the neutrophil counts.  White blood cell precursors in the bone marrow are usually affected by chemotherapy and this can lead to low levels of these blood cells.  Since white blood cells are our body's defense against infections, the manifestations of low white blood counts would include fevers or any focus of infection.  For this reason, patients are prescribed antibiotics and even receive injections to increase white blood counts (such as filgrastim or lenograstim).

If this 0.4 value really pertains to your white counts, then I believe this is really low and what you are experiencing is a condition called 'febrile neutropenia'.  I would suggest you ask your doctor about filgrastim or lenograstim injections aside from the Levaquin.

Regards.

[PaulMD]

You should also be evaluated if you would have an indication to be admitted in a hospital since some febrile neutropenia cases can be severe.