Low white blood count after chemo

LM070917

Since I finished chemo a year and a half ago, I've had a really low WBC..it usually hoovers around 2.8-3.2. Anyone else know or have the same issue? Is it from the chemo? I'm currently on arimidex, zoladex and zometa so not sure if it's to do with them too..but my RCC and everything else is good so not sure what's going on.

cive

Lottemarine:  there is a person called herme that knows something about blood counts.  You might try PMing herme.

Anonymous

Just to chime in, there are several threads on these boards (they might be old) that indicate many of us have lower WBC after chemo, and that can last for a few years. I for one have had "lower than normal, (whatever normal is)" WBCs nearly every single time I get my CBCs done during my regular oncology check ups.

I figure that those counts are simply my own unique physiology. I've also found some evidence that vegans/vegetarians (that's me) have lower WBCs simply because we aren't exposed to meat/animal bacteria as much as non-vegetarians. IOW we don't need so many white blood cells to fight off bacteria because we aren't exposed to so much.

Finally, there seems to be some good evidence that those of us who don't have a high WBC have less risk of recurrence. Here's the article. I consider my lower WBC to be a good thing in light of this information.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/1603...

LM070917

Thanks Cive I will follow up.

Thanks Clare, that's really interesting as I am also vegan and found that research paper to be interesting also, especially regarding the high ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes linked to higher recurrence. I just looked at my blood test results over the past year and all are low in this regard. Thanks again, much appreciated!

Anonymous

Lottemarine, you're welcome! That's why these boards are so great!