What happens when you have to miss chemo due to low blood counts?

Treatment delays due to low blood counts are actually quite common during chemotherapy, and many people in this community have navigated similar challenges. The shots you mentioned to help boost blood levels are something worth discussing further with your care team, along with asking about other supportive care options that might help maintain your treatment schedule while keeping you safe.

My first 4 treatments with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide were supposed to ne every 2 weeks, but ended up being delayed a week each time because of my blood counts. Once I started paclitaxel I was on track with weekly treatments. There's not much you can do about it, your body just needs more time to heal in between treatments. Chemo is very taxing on your body and mind. Try not to stress out about it.

Thank you Susan for sharing I'm on paciilaxel as one of my medications. It is taxing on the body and a lot changes I try to do things I use to do before cancer And my body says not doing that today.

Listen to your body. I tried to stay as active as possible, but listened to it when it needed the rest. A year out from chemo now and getting back to 'normal'. It takes time. Radiation made me just as tired.

Thank you all for your information. I begin radiation on the 14th. This is the last thing I thought I’d be going through at 76, but we never know what’s in store for us .

I missed one of my treatments because I needed a blood transfusion. I also got the shots after each treatment though.

Sorry replying so late Ms Katy the shot I had to take 3 days in a row had me feeling a down. Friday I was able to take chemo but after I had to go to surgeon office for then to check my port for infusion it's been itchy. Experienced shortness of breath heart papiltating. And leg shaking hands nervous hard to hold steady. Never felt like this before if any one has felt like this before please share what you did.

Don’t worry Connie I have horrible insomnia. I never really noticed any side effects from the chemo except going bald, but I have side effects now which I believe is from the Verzenio and Anastrozole. I’ve been in remission for two months thank God so I’m just gonna live with the side effects because it’s metastatic.

Glad to hear your in remission. I Will pray that you stay in remission. I think my side effects are from the shots they are giving me to increase my blood cells. I miss two weeks of treatments so far

Thank you for your kind words. I pray the best for you as well.

I know it’s scary when you miss the treatment just gotta stay positive

Katy H, the anastrazole is giving me insomnia as well. I've started taking trazadone to help me sleep.

Yeah, my doctor prescribed trazodone to me as well, but it’s not working, unfortunately

Hi Connie, Hang in there! I had taxol along with herceptin and had numerous rare side effects. My port was itchy, too, and even tho it was taken out 3 years ago now, the area still sometimes gets itchy. After chemo, I continued the herceptin every 3 weeks, but after 3 doses of that alone, I could barely breathe. They thought I had a blood clot in my lungs. So I went for a full cardio work up. Took months, they still couldn’t find anything anywhere. Finally figured it must be the herceptin, so stopped treatment. I had 6 months of it total, so they figured it was still enough. It appears there is nothing that can be done if your shortness of breath is a side effect. Sorry. Hang in there!

Virginia thank you for sharing your information. I am just going though so many things. This past weekend I went though feeling like I wanted to past out in the store. I started sweating and vision flashing squares I starting feeling lightheaded. I left out of they store got in my car. I reported my incident to the doctors office cause this was new to me. Ended up going to chemo office getting fluids found out bloody count was super low and I was running a fever. All new things except for blood count being low. I am now experiencing shortness of breath. I feel like I'm falling apart. If anyone has experienced any one of these systems pleases share they are scarey.