Last post I bemoaned Neutropenia (low white blood cell count) and the effect that it had on my chemo schedule. Yes, it was a bummer. But after a few days at my retreat spot I felt better. The following week, my numbers jumped from 1000 to a whopping 1400! Still below normal (3000), but enough to push forward with chemo. The concern is that with a diminished white blood cell count my immune system is less able to handle the toxicity of the chemo. Continue reading →

I was all prepared for Round 3 of Chemo. Prepared? No, steeled for it, braced for it last Monday. I go for a blood draw every Monday morning to check my White Blood Cell count, red blood cells…  Well. I started with WBC at 3000 – normal. Then the next week it dropped a little. A little more then next and by Round 2 – it was at 1300. 1500 is the low point of normal and 1000 means that the immune system is too compromised to continue chemo. So, Monday morning Round 2 – at 1300, I was borderline and we decided to go forward anyway. I had a really rough chemo that round, but my numbers still stayed at 1300 the next week. I have 1 week on, 2 weeks off. The 2nd week off my numbers shot up to 2400 and I was thrilled. So, it was a no brainer that going into Chemo Round 3, I’d be fine. But… no. Apparently I was all dressed up and no place to go.

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