Dignonsed with breast cancer with low white blood cell level. Need HELP!!?

Question

My friend's mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She was told to take the chemotherapy. However, her white blood cell level is too low for the treatment. Please contact me if you know any doctors or heard of anyone who had same experience. We disparately need help from you. Thanks a lot in advance!!

Thank you so much for all the helpful answers.

What turned out to be worst is that her white blood cell count is low even before she can take the chemo.
Anyone know what treatments are available for this situation?
THANKS a lot.

Answer 1

I survived breast cancer and chemo . Be sure to get enough protein in the diet and maybe a multiple vitamin. Be sure to stay AHEAD of the nausea by taking the anti-nausea pills BEFORE the nausea from the chemo starts up (after it starts, you don't even want the anti-nausea pill...) .I was a vegetarian for over 20 years, but I gave it up to keep my protein levels up and my blood levels good enough to keep the treatment from dragging out.

I was also given shots with colony stimulating factors to stimulate my bone marrow to keep my white blood count up, since I am TB positive...I forget the name of them now ...Neulasta or Neupogen...expensive, but insurance covers them

Foods I found helpful (besides bottled water and crackers) are:

1. refrigerated cold boiled eggs...lots of them (I even ate sometimes several a day)...cheap mild and lots of protein.

2. arby's or rax plain roast beef sandwiches are cheap and mild and good source of protein...

Basically anything that has a mild flavor and high protein that you like and tastes good to you....plus a multiple vitamin

For the diarrhea of the chemo...I would advise having Immodium with you at all times....

For the hair loss..get a prescription from the oncologist for a "hair prothesis" (wig) and your insurance should cover this.. I got tired of the hair falling on everything from the bathtub, sink, shoulders, bed pillow, etc, so I decided to shave my head and hide it under the wig. (It makes the wig cooler too)..or you could wear a scarf or a turban....sometimes after awhile, you get bolder and don't worry too much about being outside around the house and being bald.....and when your hair comes back it is sometimes curly, but it straightens out over time to the way it was before the chemo.

Answer 2

Low white cell counts are a common side effect of chemotherapy as are low platelet and red blood cell counts. There are medications called colony stimulating factors which may be given to stimulate the bone marrow to regenerate faster after chemo.

Cancer cells can also spread to the bone marrow and since the tumor cells can't make new blood cells and crowd out the cells that do, blood counts may be low from that as well.

Sometimes only a little extra time is needed to let the counts come up, sometimes the "GM-CSF" or other stimulating drugs are given, and in extreme cases a family member is asked to donate white blood cells which takes several hours and may require a premedication to get more cells.

Your friend's mother's doctor needs to do a better job educating them about the disease and the treatment and complications like low counts, which are very common.

I worked in a majot cancer hospital for nearly 20 years, so this is familiar to me and both of my sisters are ovarian cancer survivors so we've dealt with a lot of family chemo as well. If you don't understand something, never be shy about asking the doctor or nurse!

And all of these are free and reliable sources for information and help:

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/
http://www.komen.org
http://www.cancer.org
http://www.breastcancer.net/
http://www.cancer.gov/
http://www.y-me.org/

Answer 3

My mother fought breast cancer for 22 years before she passed 3 years ago. The last time she was diagnosed (had many recurrances) they finally did chemo on her. Each time she had a treatment she became severely neutropenic (low white cells) to the point the lab tech would come to the car to take her blood to test to see if she could travel for her next session of chemo. They couldn't take the chance of having her sit in the lab in case she got an infection from that.
There is a new drug out on the market which you see commercials for...you usually start taking it before beginning treatment but it helps keep up your white cell count.
White blood cells help our body fight infection. In the meantime, if you haven't already done so, there are some things you can do to help. All plants must be disposed of and you cannot buy any fresh fruits/vegetables that are grown in soil. If she has a cat....the cat litter has to be kept far away from her (like in the basement and leave the door open just a little for the cat). If she is in an apartment unfortunately there is no way to keep if from her so you may want to ask a friend to take care of her cat till she's better. Keep the house extremely clean - we went through cases of clorox wipes - the handrail of the stairs leading up to the bedrooms was wiped every 15 minutes. Don't forget door handles, handle on toilet, sink and taps....places we never even think of cleaning on a regular basis. There can be no painting in the home either.
If she becomes too severely neutropenic, she may be hospitalized in reverse isolation. Again, you can't send flowers, plants or fruit baskets.
If her cancer hasn't spread, she has such a good chance that I'd try to find a doctor to recommend something - perhaps a different type of chemo or just radiation until her white cell count is up.
Help keep her spirits up and let her know that people do survive....look at my mother - almost 23 years after diagnosis....a true blessing. She may have had many operations in between - it wasn't easy - but she felt blessed she had so much extra time to see her Grandchildren.
I'll pray for her and keep us posted on her condition.

Answer 4

PLEASE STOP ALL THE CHEMO THERAPY AND DOCTOR RECOMMENDED MEDICINES RIGHT AWAY. Doctors dont want you to know of the alternative medicines that can actually CURE CANCER. If a doctor tells you the alternative medicines, they will be out of a job. How much does it cost for chemo therapy each time you take in those chemicals? This medicine is better and only $75 dollars a bottle. Each bottle lasts a month. You take an ounce per day, and after each dose, you eat a banana or eat potatoes. its called "CESIUM CHLORIDE."
The problem with chemo therapy is that they always say that they never know how each person will be affected by the chemicals. You could die the next day, or you can die in a month. BUT, you cannot live past 2 years. So, its not a good garauntee that you will extend your life for 2 years. The reason is because chemo therapy is a toxin. A poison that kills your body. And if it kills the cancers before it kills you then you are cured. And if the cancer dies before you die, you probably wont live past 5 years. Because even after the cancer is killed, your body is completely deteriorated. I bet you cannot ask 100 people who knew someone who went to chemo therapy and lived more then 5 years after defeating cancer. You might get lucky and find like 2 people. What are your chances that you will be that 2 lucky people that live? So, how good of a cure can chemo therapy be?
The key to defeating cancer is all over the net. But the people who sell these alternatives cannot say on their labels that their medicines cure cancer. It is against FDA rules. The reason is because if this is done, then doctors, hospitals, and pharmaceautical companies cannot make any money. So, according to FDA, it has to be stated on the bottles that it is for vitamins only, etc etc.
You can go find these medicines and take care of your cancers in 3 to 12 months. Just listen to me as I dont make anything off of this. I am only here to help. I am sick of these doctors and big companies making money off dyng people. Doctors wont tell you either. Its against their rules. Well, gee, they were ones who created these rules, so go figure. I believe there were like alot of medicines that take care of cancers. There is a top 10 list somewhere. I think cesium chloride is listed number 1 or 2 on the list.
I found a good bottle of this on www.nutrition2000.com. I think this was the address. You can always search the internet. Get the one that contains rubidium (I think this is how it is spelt). This helps your body absorb the medicine. Good luck my friend. And please pass this information to everybody you know that needs it.

Answer 5

Check out the website below which helps to explain the White Blood Count issue, and suggests drugs that may help with the problem.

If your friend's mother can wait for the chemotherapy, the drugs can help raise her white blood count in the meantime. There is also the possibility that she could be admitted to a sterile environment to receive the chemo, but that's usually an option that is saved until absolutely necessary.

The chemo will reduce her body's ability to produce white blood cells and therefore fight infection.

Answer 6

She probably has a low white blood cell count because of the treatment. Maybe she already had a dose of chemotherapy.
The white blood cell count must come up along with all of the other lab values including the hemoglobin, hematocrit and neutrophil count. After they come up, she can go on to cycle 2. This is totally normal for a patient recieving chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy RN.

Answer 7

Sorry to hear that. My mom had a double mastectomy and had to be on medication for awhile before starting chemo. There is also radiation but she still needs to have her white blood cell count up for that too. Best wishes!
I'll call her later (she sleeps late) to find out what meds she was on and post it.

Answer 8

She can try emu oil gel caps 3 per day. Emu oil kills cancer cells and is safe to take without harming the human host. Also it will restore her blood to normal levels. Sounds to me that you lucked out on this product. Good luck One should always consult their doctor before trying anything new. Have a good day.

Answer 9

although i havnt answered your question, would like to sorry to hear that and i wish your friends mother all the best.