Blood count question?

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coonie
coonie Member Posts: 7,618
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

I have a question about my blood counts today. I just get a little paranoid now when they are "off". I finished chemo in March, so I expected my counts to be down. I went in for Herceptin today, and here's what they were:

RBC 3.59  (reference range 3.80 - 5.50)

HGB 11.6 (reference range (12.0 - 15.2)

HCT  35.4 (reference range  (37.0 -46.0)

I know that they are just a tad bit low, but was curious if any of you knew what could cause them to be abnormal. I guess I just worry way too much, and should be so thankful that they are pretty much normal. Just wanted to mention that I am still doing Herceptin and taking Arimidex since May.

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. I know you all are the experts :) Happy Thanksgiving!!

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  • azsunn
    azsunn Member Posts: 201
    edited November 2008

    One of the listed potential side effects of Herceptin is continued suppression of blood counts. 

    My counts are similar to yours, and my WBC remains low as well; I finished chemo in late May.

    Wow looking at your stats our situations/time line are almost identical.  How is your white count?

    Have a happy Thanksgiving.

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  • coonie
    coonie Member Posts: 7,618
    edited November 2008

    Hi Kath!

    My white count is 5.8.......in the normal range. I wasn't sure if the Herceptin could cause it or not. I finish Herceptin in January (only 3 more to go), so maybe things will get back to normal. If there is such a thing as "normal" after breast cancerUndecided Yeah....I notice your diagnosis and dates are almost the same as mine. This Thanksgiving is sure gonna be better than last, huh? How are you feeling?

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  • azsunn
    azsunn Member Posts: 201
    edited November 2008

    I feel pretty good actually.  I am anxiously awaiting finishing up Herceptin, I should finish up in Feb.  This Thanksgiving will definitely be an improvement, last year I was waiting on pathology.

    My white is 1.8 on a good week, 1.2 on a not so good week.  I'm waiting to have exchange surgery and the PS won't until my counts are better.

    Are you doing the 3 week infusion or weekly infusions?  I do weekly.

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  • Deedee79
    Deedee79 Member Posts: 52
    edited November 2008

    Hi All!

    I don't understand blood counts. When I was in the hospital they said my white blood count was to high and they would'nt let me go home. I believe they said it was 1600 when I came in to ER and it had gone down to 500 the next day. Does anyone know what the white count should be?Thanks, Dee "Happy Thanksgiving"

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  • wishiwere
    wishiwere Member Posts: 3,793
    edited November 2008

     Lisa, RBC's can go up be/c of meds and such and they normally really worry when they are down b/c of risk of bleeding or such in blood loss, or thnning where you might not stop bleeding.  Some of my RBC's counts were up including platelets, and such during therapy.

    I did hear that we can sometimes have 'new normals' for us after treatments are over, so perhaps you'll just have higher counts for awhile, or it could be the meds doing it.  Usually not a concern when slightly elevated. And many women have low RBC's count from menses and such.  Are you feeling abnormally tired?  There is an old (easy on the system) way to add iron to your system by cooking with cast iron pots/pans. It truly does work.  Hard to find them nowadays, but sometimes you can borrow  them from older folks or watch at 2nd hand shops.

    DeeDee, WBC's are normally around 4.5-11 or 450-1100 depending on the lab testing.  When they go down, they mean you have less WBC's then needed to fight infection and can easily pick up bugs.  When they are high as yours were, they mean infection, which is why they didnt' want you to go home till they had come down or were fighting it.  My dd had them in the 22,000 range with a salivary gland infection as an infant. Was hospitalized right away.  It's good they increase with infection but when little guys or those who immunes systems are compromised in your situation, then it's a worry.

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  • coonie
    coonie Member Posts: 7,618
    edited November 2008

    Hey Kath---I go every 3 weeks for Herceptin. It's just more convenient for me. I was waiting on path reports last Thanksgiving too!! That was a VERY DIFFICULT time. Maybe you can speak to your onc about a neulasta or neupogen shot?? Hope they level off soon so you can be done with your surgery!! Good luck! and hope you have a great Thanksgiving this year!!!

    Wish---thanks for the info. I may have "new normals". I know I shouldn't complain because they're really not that bad. I tend to worry a little too much about "abnormal" reports. My doctor's office didnt' seem concerned. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

    DeeDee----hope you're feeling well. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!!!!

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  • Deedee79
    Deedee79 Member Posts: 52
    edited November 2008

    Wishiwere! Thank you so much for the info. The whole thing seems so scarry. I'm thinking about joining a support group. I've had my last chemo and now I will go on Herceptin and radiation. Hope your all doing fine.Hugs, Dee

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