Why are White Blood Cells Important for Breast Cancer?

[@nonyabiness4023]

Great video. My WBC dropped to 1.2 after my 3rd chemo treatment. I ended up in the hospital with sepsis. After the next treatment I was given a booster shot. Strong chemo for triple negative breast cancer. I’m doing well now!

[@MeZooni]

My mom is on 1st chemo ..2nd chemo is on 5th August ... My moms er + pr - her2- ... I m happy that you are doing well .. Mom is also advised to not take mask off . Any more advice u want to gv me ..?

[@yerbba]

Thank you for sharing your experience. So happy to hear you're doing well now.

[@Anne-de4up]

@@MeZooni 🤗💥

[@ChristmasKathy]

I am a new subscriber- I have been going through your videos and appreciate them very much. Thank you! 🙏💓🙏

[@yerbba]

Welcome to the Yerbba community! We're so glad to have you here, and we're pleased to hear that you're finding our videos helpful.

[@naththomas9946]

Thank you for your medical advice, very helpful.

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching. We appreciate you!

[@nazoohafazal2742]

I love your video May God bless you

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching and your comment! We appreciate you!

[@naththomas9946]

Thank you, for your continuous caring support on breast cancer (health), and medical advice 🎀.

[@yerbba]

We appreciate your positive feedback. Thanks for watching!

[@DCS_DCS]

I wish I would have learned about WBC before chemo, surgery and Radiation. Another good video Doctor 🎉

[@yerbba]

Thank you for your kind words. It's essential to be well-informed about all options before making decisions about treatments. Thanks for watching...we appreciate you taking the time to write.

[@anilarora7107]

Appreciate your skills

[@NweTingye]

Thank you so much for all the informations and I've finished my 3rd cycle.

[@yerbba]

We appreciate your support. Thank you for being part of the Yerbba community.

[@HL-qv3yd]

Great information thank you so much ❤

[@yerbba]

Thank you for watching. We appreciate you!

[@lyndawilding4794]

Fantastic true info,thanks

[@yerbba]

Thank you for your positive feedback. Yerbba appreciates your support!

[@sathyanarayan37]

My wife diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia after 3rd cycle of chemotherapy what are options available??

[@yerbba]

In general, we don't treat with chemotherapy until the pneumonia is well under control. Waiting to resume chemotherapy is the best course of action. Hoping for a speedy recovery.

[@janna7777]

I have a question about blood result of blood test that mesures MCV,MCH and MCHC* I have slightly higher than normal,sometimes...but MCV is always around 99.9(normal 83.0-97.2) I had lumpectomy 2021,I regulary do check up,blood tests,etc. My hemoglobin is normal,I'm not anemic,I did vitamin B blood test and the result is good... I always wonder what is the cause of slightly higher MCV as it is the ONLY parameter in my blood tests that is constanly marked as higher(slightly!)

[@yerbba]

Great question. Your MCV is essentially normal as you describe. (Remember our ranges for normal are two standard deviations from the mean and that 5% of results that are normal will fall outside that range.) Causes of a higher MCV are B12 and folate deficiency, which you are unlikely to have, chemotherapy exposure as well as a few other things you are unlikely to have (Crohn's disease, which has symptoms). Without being anemic, we do not think that an additional workup is required, but as you know, we can't provide specific medical guidance. We love this question.

[@janna7777]

@@yerbba Thank you for your reply!,greetings from Croatia🙂🤗❤️

[@WendyKnippel]

I struggled with my WBC thru chemo and now I am struggle again while on chemo pills for the next two years. Ugh!

[@grammysix5459]

Me too. I’m having the same with a 1.3

[@yerbba]

Thanks for writing. Unless you are having recurrent infections, it is likely that the low white blood cell counts are just a number. Many people live with counts below "normal" and never have any problems. Hope this is helpful.

[@paigemckelvey8781]

Thanks you for the explanation. I am curious about the effects of Gastrofil for increasing WBC during chemo, particularily Taxels. Also, are the current low normals of WBC at 4?

[@yerbba]

Gastrofil is one of the colony stimulating (growth) factors. When given the day after chemotherapy, these factors decrease the depth and duration of the lowering of white blood cells. They should not be given when counts are already low unless someone has pneumonia or sepsis (a serious bloodstream infection). They should not be given in people getting weekly chemotherapy. The taxanes usually do not lower white blood cell counts to the same extent as many other chemotherapy agents, and it is often the case that people do not need these growth factors during treatment with the taxanes unless the taxane is combined with another chemotherapy drug. The normal white blood cell range varies according to each lab, but the range we usually see is that between 5 and 10 is "normal."

[@CGyog]

Just spent 6 days in hospital for IV antibiotics due to infection which likely started 10 weeks ago at time of double mastectomy (no chemo or radiation); left tissue expander removed last week because the drugs weren’t working fast enough. I never had a fever and my white counts were ‘perfect’ in the hospital according to a nurse. Is the lack of symptoms with infection normal? I did have some left breast swelling and redness of skin right before admission (& it was those symptoms that led me to call the doctor).

[@yerbba]

Thank you for sharing your experience with the Yerbba community. It is not uncommon for infection not to cause a fever. You had a severe but localized infection from what you describe. Thanks for taking the time to comment, and here's wishing for a speeding recovery.

[@dn-cp6sh]

Can you have low wbc counts 3 months after surgery? Thank you.

[@ODNA07079]

This is a good question. Hope she answers.

[@yerbba]

Some people have low white blood cell counts in "cycles." So the cell count will fluctuate over time. Surgery itself does not cause low white blood cell counts for any substantial length of time.

[@cynthiayee5116]

Hello Doctor , I receive the pegfilgratism shot eeach time after 24 hours of chemo ..directly to belly area

[@yerbba]

That's the best way to get these growth factors…24 hours after chemotherapy. Thank you for writing.

[@HL-qv3yd]

Does white blood cells also fights er positive breast cancer cells too? Thank you ❤

[@yerbba]

There are many types of cells that help prevent the development of cancer. Once a cancer is established (has been diagnosed), the cells are useful in "cleaning up" dead cells regardless of whether they are ER-positive or ER-negative.

[@HL-qv3yd]

Thank you so much ❤

[@richricogranada9647]

I’m childless, postmenopausal, with highly dense breasts, and have MRI every 2 years, as mammograms don’t detect any ca. Hoping ca. will never crosses my way…

[@yerbba]

Mammograms are able to detect 70% of cancers in people with dense breasts, so, for our other viewers, they are the gold standard. MRIs do not detect DCIS, which is the earliest form of breast cancer. In people who get MRIs, mammograms are recommended as well. Wishing you continued good health and peace of mind.

[@jahlin4250]

I will start TCHP treatment soon and am wondering if I should get my COViD booster and my second Shingles vaccine?

[@yerbba]

Getting your vaccinations before starting chemotherapy is an excellent idea. Make sure you talk with your medical team, however, before you do since they know your care and history so well.

[@robinmccutcheon768]

Has there been a video on white blood cells boosters?

[@yerbba]

We don't have a specific video about white blood cell boosters, but this video does discuss ways to support white blood cell production, including the use of white cell boosters. If you have any more specific questions or need further information on this topic, feel free to ask!

[@cynthiayee5116]

Doctor my blood level is 108 after my last chemo which was july 17 2023 do I still need iron to consume ...in order to maintain my red blood cells

[@yerbba]

Anemia (low red blood cell counts) can be from chemotherapy even with normal iron stores. It is not clear that taking iron will help. The best thing is time, which we know is hard to hear. Wishing you the best.

[@cynthiayee5116]

@@yerbba Thankyou so much Doctor for much of your supportive information .😊