Why is gardening not permitted when my white blood cell count is low?

Question

The count is a little low due to chemotherapy.

Answer 1

you can pick up a germ very easy and when your white count is too low its hard to fight off the most smallest infection such as a simple cut on the finger if you wont to garden try putting your knees on a pillow and wearing gloves and maybe a mask that covers your mouth and nose i know how it feels to wont to do thing and they tell you ,you cant because you have cancer but there is always a way to do it if you put your mind to it dont give up the things you love thats what keeps you going and good luck

Answer 2

Granulocytopenia is an abnormally low concentration of granulocytes in the blood. This condition reduces the body's resistance to many infections.
Neutrophils usually make up 50-70% of circulating white blood cells and serve as the primary defence against infections by destroying bacteria in the blood. Hence, patients with neutropenia are more susceptible to bacterial infections and without prompt medical attention, the condition may become life-threatening.
Low white cell counts are associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, leukemia (as malignant cells overwhelm the bone marrow), myelofibrosis and aplastic anemia (destruction of the bone marrow by the immune system). In addition, many common medications can cause leukopenia.
The terms "agranulocytosis", granulocytopenia, and neutropenia are often used interchangeably, although "agranulocytosis" implies a more severe deficiency than "granulocytopenia", and "neutropenia" implies a deficiency of neutrophils only. To be precise, neutropenia is the term used to describe absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) <500 per microlitre. Whereas, agranulocytosis is reserved for cases with ANC <100 per microlitre. The following terms can be used to specify the type of granulocyte referenced:
* neutrophil -- neutropenia
* eosinophil -- eosinopenia - not commonly used
* basophil -- basopenia - very rarely used
Please see the web pages for more details on Agranulocytosis, Granulocytopenia, Neutropenia and Leukopenia.

Answer 3

In my office, we also advise patients to avoid gardening and yard work.

The soil is a rich growing environment, and not just for plants. There are a number of fungi, spores and bacteria that you can pickup there. We have had a couple of patients get into trouble with unusual bacteria, and a fungus called aspergillosis.

We also advise neutropenic patients to avoid cut flowers (they are decaying in that stinky water!), unwashed or under cooked food, restaurants, housecleaning, vacuuming and pets, and any person with a cough or other signs of a cold. And children who have had a 'live' vaccine (mostly chickenpox).

Hope this helps. Stay well!

MM

Answer 4

because if you scratch youself you could get bloodpoisoning easily