I'm really feeling bummed out today. Went to get my chemo teatment today and my WBC is still too low. When they do the calculation, my numbers this week are even lower than last week which was 0.78. Now it is down to 0.57. The number needs to be at least 1.5. I've already missed one week and that had me rattled. Now if I can get it next week, it will be 4 weeks since I had the last one (June 27th). The nurse called the oncologist who ordered the lab to do additional testing on my blood. The nurse told me the dr. may reduce the amount of chemo I'm taking, which is Folfox. Has anyone else had to take a reduced dosage of chemo because of side effects? Does this mean that I may have to take more then 12 treatments? I am worried that even next week it may not be up enough for chemo. The surgeon took the part of my colon where the tumor was and all the lymph nodes in the right side of my abdomen, so we are not trying to shrink a tumor, just kill any stuff that might have been left behind. Am I worrying needlessly? Once I can get back on chemo, they are definitely giving me Neulasta even tho I dread the bone pain. I'd rather put up with pain than be scared that bad cells will start growing inside of me because of delayed chemo and a deficient immune system.
B.A.Mc.

My wife has Stage III CRC. She skipped 3 weeks in a row due to low WBC and low platlets after her 5th treatment. Her Dr's said that it happens ocassionally and things will suddenly rebound. Before her last chemo her blood work was virtually normal. They told us not to worry at the delay. However, if you are concerned you should really see what your dr. says.

I was similar to you, stage II, and normal margins. I did chemo as a "precaution". I skipped two weeks during chemo, because I felt so bad, they were two seperate weeks. But usually my counts were always "flirting" with normal and several times had to adjust the amount of chemo, but once I could tolerate it, he would put the levels back up to normal.

Thank you both, maybe there is some hope of this turning around, but 0.54 is sooo low. My oncologist called me today and said he just doesn't know what to think. Most of his patients have other problems. My neutrophil is low as well as the overall WBC. There is some calculation they do: multiply the neutrophil by the white blood count and divide by 1000. It is supposed to come out to 1.5 in order to receive chemo, so I've got almost one whole point to come up in a week's time. He mentioned if it stays low I may have something else going on with my bone marrow and he may have to do a bone marrow bioposy. That has struck fear in my heart! I know that can be very painful. I will beg and plead to be put to sleep for that procedure. After that I will still have to deal with the diagnosis as well as more chemo if I ever get straight.
B.A.Mc.