has anyone had Low white blood cell beginning tx and stayed border line and no need for medication.

has anyone had Low white blood cell beginning tx and stayed border line and no need for medication. Im in week 3, has anyone had 2700 of WBC and stayed low in tx and no medication needed. I was 4500 beginning of tx and in week 3 I'm 2700. Im 1a and going for 48 weeks, can I make it with no medicine for bringing WBC back up.

[yoyoma123]

sorry started at 5500 not 4500 my WBC

[Trinity4]

What is your ANC?  ANC determines if Neupogen is needed not just low WBC.

Trinity

[jusjames]

no but i did start with very low reds and i am just about ok , well not really but not on rescue drugs anyway

[yoyoma123]

my neutrofil is 46 range is from 40-75

Is ANC same as neutrofil

[Diane12855]

ANC stands for Absolute Neutrophil Count. On my lab reports it is towards the bottom of the page whereas the WBC count is at the top.

My WBCs are 2600 and my ANC is 1.2 and my doctor hasn't told me I needed to take anything for it. I take my 14th shot tonight, and my numbers were higher when I first started tx but I'm still OK.

[Trinity4]

Your ANC calculates to around 1.24.  You are still within acceptable range.

Low white blood cells is very typical with antiviral therapy.  Many of us don't even start Neupogen until our ANC is below 500.  Different doctors have different thresholds at which they feel intervention with Neupogen is necessary.

Trinity

[stg088]

I honestly don't know what my WBCs were when I started treatment (but they were within the normal range.)  They've been between 1500 and 2200 for most of treatment (9 or 10 months) and fluctuate up and down.  I have not used Neupogen.

If your CBC gives the right information, you can calculate your own ANC.  Add the Segmented Neutrophils and Band Neutrophils to = Total Neutrophils.  Multiply this number by the WBC.  This gives you ANC.  (For example, on my last labs
                    seg. neutrphils = 0.33 (33%)
                    + band neutr.  = 0.08
                      = total  neutr    0.41
WBC = 1500
1500 x 0.41 = 615 (ANC)

This is one of my lower ones, but as I said, it fluctuates.  Last month, my ANC was 1260 (one of my higher ones)