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Cancer: Low White Blood Cell Count Your chance of having a low white blood cell count depends on your type of cancer, the type of treatment, and how often you have the treatment. Your age and your overall health also play a role. Small children and older people are at a higher risk of having a low white blood cell count, as are people who have other health problems. There are medicines that help the body make white blood cells. These medicines may help some people with low white blood cell counts. These are given as shots after chemotherapy to keep the white blood cell count up. A higher blood cell count may help you avoid infections and fight them off when you get one. White blood cells help fight germs that cause infection. Cancer treatment can lower your white blood cell count, which is the number of white blood cells in your body. This makes it easier to get an infection. Chemotherapy is the most common cancer treatment that causes a low white blood cell count. Radiation and other treatments also may lower the white blood cell count. There are things you can do to stay as healthy as possible and reduce your chance of an infection. What happens if your white blood cell count drops? You can get infections easily if your white blood cell count drops. Even a mild infection that would not have been a problem when you were healthier can be serious when you have cancer. You may not have the defenses to fight it off. Watch your temperature and call your doctor if it goes up and stays up. How can you avoid an infection? • Wash your hands often, especially before you eat and before and after you go to the bathroom. • Shower or bathe daily. How will cancer treatment affect your white blood cell count? • Gently brush your teeth every day with a soft toothbrush. Cancer treatments destroy cancer cells. But a common side effect is that they also can decrease your white blood cell count, making it hard for you to fight infections. Once your treatment is done, your white blood cell count will slowly improve. • Keep your nails clean and trimmed. Do not cut or pick your cuticles. • Stay away from people who are sick. • Avoid crowds. • Talk to your doctor before you get any vaccination, including the flu vaccine. • Try not to get cuts or burns. Use an electric razor if you shave. If you get a cut, clean it right away with soap and warm water. • Eat well and get plenty of sleep. • You have mouth sores or diarrhea. These sometimes can be caused by cancer treatment. Call your doctor if you have diarrhea or mouth sores that do not get better with home treatment. What about safe food handling? Learn the best way to handle and prepare foods to help avoid infections. And find out what foods you should not eat. For example, your doctor may tell you to eat only well-done meat. You may need to scrub all raw fruits and vegetables before you eat them, and avoid foods that can't be washed well, such as raspberries. Germs that live inside meats are not always killed unless the meat is fully cooked. Germs on fresh fruits and vegetables are not always easy to wash off, and you can get an infection. What are the signs of infection? • You have a fever. • You have chills (shakes) or sweating. • You have a sore throat or cough. • You have burning when you urinate or have to go very often. • You have redness, pain, or swelling around a sore or IV site. • You have unusual vaginal drainage or itching. • You feel sick, even if you do not have a fever. • You get spots on your skin. • You have swollen glands. Even a mild infection can be serious when you have cancer, especially if you do not have the white blood cells to fight it off. Ask your doctor about when to call if you think you have an infection. How is an infection treated? If you get an infection, your doctor may give you antibiotics to help fight the infection. You may need to be in the hospital for this. Your doctor will do blood tests to make sure that your white blood cell counts are going up. If you are at home, take your antibiotics exactly as prescribed. If you don't get better, or have other concerns, call your doctor. Talk to your doctor Talk to your doctor about your risk for having a low white blood cell count during treatment. Ask about how to avoid an infection. There are medicines that can help your body make more white blood cells. Ask your doctor if these medicines are right for you. Do you have any questions or concerns after reading this information? It's a good idea to write them down and take them to your next doctor visit. ©2007-2015 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise disclaims any liability for use of this information, which does not replace medical advice. 2014-11-tu6553