What happens if your white blood count is low?

Question

I want to know if having cancer lowers you white blood and what will happen if you have a surgery when your white blood count is low.

Thanks for all the answers

I meant to say--White blood cells

Answer 1

There are some blood cancers that lower the white cell count.

Chemotherapy can also lower your white cell count.

Your white cells help fight infection, so a low count increases the risk of infection.

Normally surgery would be delayed by a low count.

Surgery for cancer is usually carried out either before chemotherapy or after the white cell count has recovered.

Answer 2

The only way cancer lowers your white blood cell count is when you get chemotherapy...having low white blood cells is very dangerous because even the slightest cold can get out of hand and turn into something worse like pneumonia or something. White blood cells are the ones who fight off diseases that's why the doctor tells you, or should tell you not to be around anybody that is sick even if it is a runny nose...when you have surgery with your count low, you will take longer to heal your wounds and you are very prone to getting VERY sick

Answer 3

Chemo will lower your white blood count, when the index is below certain number, you have to stop chemo until the number is back up.
You can get a shot to boost it up, you can take Chinese medicines, before starting chemo to maintain a higher white blood count, or you can eat a lot of raw tomatoes. Check out my blog that documents my personal experience of chemotherapy to lung cancer.
http://360.yahoo.com/taichang48

Answer 4

YES CANCER DOES LOWER THE WHITE BLOOD CELLS, SO DOES THE CHEMOTHERPHY, AND YOU CAN GET SHOSTS TO BOOST YOUR WHITE BLOOD CELLS BACK UP