continued low white blood cell count

Hi ejij,

I have not found a way to just support the blood. I will look around some more.  I think they key is to really take care of the whole body with a good diet. I think the blood will repair it's self in time.

I will see what I can find out.

Flalady

The white blood cells (WBC) work acts as your body's protectors, providing it immunity against infections. Also called leukocytes, WBC are essentially of five types - basophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes (T cells and B cells), monocytes and neutrophils. The normal count of white blood cells in the body is 4,500-10,000 white blood cells/mcL. The body needs to maintain it, to keep its immunity intact. When WBCs fall below this range, the immune system of the body gets weak, making it susceptible to infections. In case you are suffering from the problem, rest assured that there are certain foods that can help raise the white blood cells. In the following lines, we have provided information on how to increase the white blood cell (WBC) count in the body.   Foods That Increase WBC Count 

• Yoghurt
• Garlic
• Oysters
• Pot roast
• Dark meat turkey
• Pumpkin
• Squash seeds
• Shitake mushrooms
• Spinach
• Carrots
• Melon
• Oranges
• Fish oil
• Beet root
• Milk
• Figs
• Boiled eggs
• Green Grams
• Pulses
• Legumes
• Cereals
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Strawberries

Tina-

my white cell count has been low too but I did not have chemo or herceptin. I am taking an arsenol of supplements which I think and am hoping is the cause.  Are you taking any supplements such as curcumin or green tea or any others? I have read that these supplements can cause low white cell counts and asked my naturalpath who said they could but she has not seen that happen, which concerns me. 

Does anyone else have feedback on this?

 Thank you,

Liz

LOL- Liz I had just sent you this Thread- Jinx.

Pam

Thanks LizM100.

ejlj - I would watch those blood counts over the next few weeks or months. Blood takes a while to repair after tx.  I would not stop good supplement just because this could be a possibility.  The key is you are rebuilding the immune system.  You should see improvements soon.  I have done curcumin for two years and never had this issue or have had other tell me of any issues. So lets wait and see... I know change diet is hard I still fight the changes. I have learn one thing through all this diet stuff...you eat better in the summer months.  We seem to want the lighter foods on the warm day.  So hopefully when you get out of snow this year things will get easier for you.

Flalady

PS You will not believe how I found this...it's the diet for people who have Lupus and stay with low white counts....the things you can find on the internet can be wonderful!

Tina-

I hope this not going to be too confusing and I will try to make this as easy as possible.

Cut and paste the below link to your browser especially paying attention at the end of the article to Immunospuressive drugs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leukopenia

After reading the above article, cut and paste the below link.

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunosuppressive_drug

The above article breaks down immunosupressive drugs into 5 categories.  If you go all the way down to "Other Drugs" and read the 2nd paragraph under TNF binding proteins, it lists curcumin and green tea as a immunosupressive drug.  

The articles are a bit confusing but my understanding is the immunosupressive drugs can lower your white cell counts.

As I stated earlier my naturalpath said these supplements can lower the white cell counts but she has not seen that happen.  Next time I see her I will ask her if these supplements are actually doing harm instead of good but I don't see her again for over a month.  My oncologist recommended that I get off the supplements for a few weeks and have the blood work retested. I think that I will do that.

My CBC pattern is I have had normal bloodwork (other than being anemic) b/4 getting on the supplements.  Since I have been on the supplements, my white cell count along with a few other counts has been out of the normal range.  A few months ago I needed to have a pre operative CBC done which came back normal(other than being anemic). When I had the pre operative CBC done, I'm pretty sure (about 75%) I was off the supplements for 2 weeks since some of the supplements are blood thinners.  Since I restarted the supplements, once again I had a CBC done and the white cell count is low. Very interesting isn't it?

I'm sorry about not being able to link the above but since I changed my browser and increased my security, I can't link anything...probably for security reasons...

Yes, Flalady you truly are amazing!!!!   I know of another stage 4 lady in my town who too has changed her diet and lifestyle and is going strong for over 5 years. I recall her telling me what inspired her was a book.  If I find the name of the book I will post it.

Keep going strong and keep sharing your knowledge and experience. 

ejlj,

Your body has been through a lot in the last few months.  I agree that rads can be hard on your system.  Rads made me really fatigue for days near the end of my rads tx.  When I stopped chemo last year for a few months, I had low white & red, liver enzymes high, a blood clot in my neck from rads and high cholesterol that I've never had before. It took it about three months with me really hitting the supplements and diet and it all went away. It just takes time.

Hang in their lady it does get better.

Flalady

Hi everyone...glad I found this tread as I have a general question to ask re: low white blood cells. I was diagnosed with low white blood cells 1.4 by a bl test last week. I did not have chemo only lump and rads almost 2 years ago. Now I was told I have a fatty liver as my liver enzymes are in the 400 's. I am not taking any hormonal drugs, my choice as my bc was stage 1 grade 1 tubular type and .6 in size. Do you think from all these txs we get that this is an after effect?

I am so tired...I was taking lots of vitamins but stopped these too. Any helpful comments or suggests would be appreciated.

Blackjack

Hi blackjack,

Your counts should be back to normal by now.  What is your doctor saying about this? If I were you I would fine a really good naturopathic doctor.  They can do wonder for a liver.  This is a big thing from them is taking care of the liver and other organ support.  I have a feeling they will want you to do a liver detox and fast for a few weeks.  Some times this can jump start the liver. I've had my liver do some bad things with so much chemo but it is back to normal. I think they can also help you with the low white counts.  The liver may not be doing it's job with your blood.  Maybe there is some kind of connection???  I hope you can find some help with the liver it is a very important of your bodies over all health. I never knew this until I got dx.  One of the main reason stage iv ladies chemo's stop working is because our liver can no longer break down the chemo for proper us due to toxicity.

Rekoz - I will PM you.

Fldlady....thank you for your response. I do not have a neuropathic md. Where would I look for one. Liver detox..how do you do this. I am very interested in this. Can you offer suggestions on how this is done. Thanks

Blackjack