Neutropenia : BC Cancer Agency

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Managing Symptoms & Side Effects
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		Understanding Neutropenia
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Neutropenia

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Reviewed: December 2006

About Cancer-Related Neutropenia

Neutropenia (New-tro-pee-nee-ah) is the term used to describe the condition when your neutrophil count in your blood is too low. Neutrophils (new-tro-phil) are a type of white blood cell that kills bacteria. White blood cells are the cells in your body that fight infections or germs. Your bone marrow (the spongy part of your bones) produces these cells along with other types of blood cells. Neutrophils are the first line of defense when your body needs to fight an infection so they are monitored closely. Think of them as your knights in shining armor coming to rescue you from an infection or germ.

Why Neutrophils Are Important
Because the neutrophils are the first line of defence it is very important for your doctor and nurses to follow your neutrophil count (meaning the number of neutrophils that you have available to fight an infection). You may hear your nurse/doctor discussing your "counts". They are referring to the number of different cells you have including your white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets (plate-lets). They get these numbers from your blood tests, and it is called a Complete Blood Count (CBC). A CBC is monitored at different times before and during your chemotherapy treatments.

The BC Cancer Agency maintains a database on commonly used unconventional therapies available to cancer patients.

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The BC Cancer Agency is a part of the Provincial Health Services Authority .

Unofficial document if printed. Please refer to the following web address for up-to-date information: http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/copingwithcancer/symptoms/neutropenia/default.htm