Chemo has been delayed

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1

hi everyone,

just wondering if someone has the treatments delayed because the low blood counts.
I am on CMF and this has happened 3 times so far.

Any comments will be very welcomed.

thanks in advance
and good luck to everyone,

Anax

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Hi Ana

Yes, I’ve had my (FEC) chemo delayed 2x now, due to low neutrophil count. For my last 2 sessions I’m having GCSF injections which boost the output of white blood cells. There are some other threads on here about them, or just generally low bloods counts and how to deal with them which may be worth doing a search on. The injections I have are for 5 days and can be given by yourself if you feel you can, otherwise by a district nurse. It may be worth discussing with your onc or BCN. I haven’t been too bothered by my delays but it does mean the whole chemo bit drags on and is worse if you’re due to have other treatment afterwards as well - it seems never ending.

Hope you can get this dealt with and not have any more delays.

Take care

Nicky x

3

Hi Ana

As Nicky says there are drugs which can be given to boost low white blood counts. There is a class of drugs known as G-CSF which inlcudes neupogen and neulasta. Unfortuantely there is a real postcode lottery about the use of these drugs because they are expensive.

I know thats its very upsetting to have chemo dleayed. It is worth letting your medical team know that you know about these injections.

best wishes

Jane

4

Hi Ana,

My second chemo was delayed due to low blood counts, so after that I always had the neulasta injection to make sure it didn’t happen again. Neulasta comes as one injection, which has to be done between 24 and 72 hours after chemo. My chemo day was Friday, I would be sent home with the injection, then the district nurse came on the Sunday to administer it.

5

Hi

Im having EC (6) and had the last 3 delayed. My last is 2 days time. Should of finished 16th July. Ive never been offered injections to boost anything! I live in north east. But it gives me another week to cook and clean and catch up before I carnt do anything for a week after chemo…
Lyn x

6

My 3rd FEC was delayed a week as I had a slight chest infection. My blood counts were fine, but onc said no. Actually, it worked out well for me as FEC 3 was much eaiser than FEC 2, and as Lyn says above, it’s nice to have an extra ‘good’ week.

Kinden
x