What happens when chemo is delayed for low white blood cells?

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TC

Community Member

2 months ago

Hi My name is Teri and I'm 62 years old and was diagnosed with Colorectal with Metastatic liver cancer. I just started chemotherapy having treatments every two weeks with me on my second treatment. I was supposed to have my third treatment almost two weeks ago, but when I had my blood tests done before I was supposed to have my third treatment of chemo, it showed my white blood cells extremely low (970), so my doctor said that we had to skip this treatment to let my white blood cells regenerate and then start my treatments up again on September 30, which is coming up. The cancer has spread to my pelvis and lower spine, which has made it impossible for me to walk, so I am bedridden all the time, with me only getting up to go to treatments, and I have to get into a wheelchair that also lays back, in order for me to go to those. My doctor sent me to a doctor to have a radiation consult, and they are talking about spot radiation for my bones, in hopes that I will eventually be able to walk again. My adult son has been researching alternative treatments, for me to add to my chemo treatments, which I will explain later. When I was diagnosed with this cancer, they said with chemo, if it works, I only have up to 3 years to live. Oh, one more thing I forgot to add earlier on this. The tumor that is right above my retum is so large that they had to give me a ostomy bag, so that I don't have bowel movements out of my rectum, I have them in the ostomy bag.

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Accepted Answer

When chemotherapy is delayed due to low white blood cell counts, it gives the body time to recover and rebuild those important infection-fighting cells - this is a common and necessary safety measure that oncologists use to protect patients during treatment. The medical team will monitor blood levels closely and resume treatment when it's safe to do so, and many patients successfully continue their chemotherapy after these temporary delays. This community understands the challenges of navigating treatment decisions and managing multiple symptoms, and others here may have experience with similar situations they'd be willing to share.

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AA

Community Member

2 months ago

I'm sorry, Teri, that this cancer has spread so wildly, and is causing you so much pain. Any decisions made about the spot radiation treatment? I had 5 days of radiation before surgery, & it shrunk a few tumors before surgery. Hoping it has some positive & hopeful implications for you, too. Our situations are similar in some ways & different in others. I had colorectal surgery to deal with 2 sizeable tumors, which resulted in a colostomy. I'm having a pretty hard time adjusting to this major change. How are you dealing with your new ileostomy? Keep us updated. The more people that read, the greater chance others will relate more closely to your situation. Take good care.

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RO

Community Member

2 months ago

I wish they would do an ostomy bag on me, diapers are the norm as the mass is right on the sphincter, most of it external. It's constant stool incontinence. I feel for you. I have named the mass George and I want George gone but all the docs say they can't do surgery until after the chemo and radiation.

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AA

Community Member

2 months ago

Ive named my stoma Joe. Colostomies are a little different than iliostimies. They're not constant, and can SOMETIMES be reversed. Same here about about that -- everything needs to be done before that is even considered.

1

CA

Community Member

2 months ago

When chemotherapy is delayed due to low white blood cell counts, it gives the body time to recover and rebuild those important infection-fighting cells - this is a common and necessary safety measure that oncologists use to protect patients during treatment. The medical team will monitor blood levels closely and resume treatment when it's safe to do so, and many patients successfully continue their chemotherapy after these temporary delays. This community understands the challenges of navigating treatment decisions and managing multiple symptoms, and others here may have experience with similar situations they'd be willing to share.

What happens when chemo is delayed for low white blood cells?

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