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What Does Very Low Lymphocyte Count After Chemo For Breast Cancer Indicate?
Question: I have stage 3A lobular breast cancer. Grade 2. I am currently having chemo, and will have a mastectomy later. I am 95% ER and PR positive. HER2 negative. But I am worried about several things.
1. I am undergoing Carbo Taxol Chemo for 12 weeks. Just finished 4 rounds of A/C chemo. My lymphocyte count is .6. That is very low. How low can it safely go?
2. My oncologist is ordering MRI's and Pet Scans soon to see where we are. I am worried that the tests will show progression of disease. I know this shouldn't be happening with the chemo, but I'm worried, because I know lobular cancer divides slowly and is therefore somewhat resistant to chemo. How likely do you think it is that these tests will show disease progression?
1. I am undergoing Carbo Taxol Chemo for 12 weeks. Just finished 4 rounds of A/C chemo. My lymphocyte count is .6. That is very low. How low can it safely go?
2. My oncologist is ordering MRI's and Pet Scans soon to see where we are. I am worried that the tests will show progression of disease. I know this shouldn't be happening with the chemo, but I'm worried, because I know lobular cancer divides slowly and is therefore somewhat resistant to chemo. How likely do you think it is that these tests will show disease progression?
Brief Answer:
I can understand your concerns.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX ,
Thank you for your query . I can understand your concerns.
The absolute lymphocyte count should be more than 500 cells/mul that is 0.5 . So though it is low for you but you can take chemo till it goes till 0.5
The MRI and PET scan have 95 % accuracy to detect disease progression .So do not worry about that.
Regards
Dr. Som MD
I can understand your concerns.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXX ,
Thank you for your query . I can understand your concerns.
The absolute lymphocyte count should be more than 500 cells/mul that is 0.5 . So though it is low for you but you can take chemo till it goes till 0.5
The MRI and PET scan have 95 % accuracy to detect disease progression .So do not worry about that.
Regards
Dr. Som MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Does the lymphocyte count usually keep dropping during carbo-taxol chemo, or does is hit a low point and then just stay there (like at .6).
Also, what I was asking about the PET and MRI scans was more--do you think the chemo will have prevented disease progression? I worry because I have lobular cancer, and it divides slowly, so I am afraid the chemo does not work well on it. What do you think? Will the chemo prevent disease progression?
Also, what I was asking about the PET and MRI scans was more--do you think the chemo will have prevented disease progression? I worry because I have lobular cancer, and it divides slowly, so I am afraid the chemo does not work well on it. What do you think? Will the chemo prevent disease progression?
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXX,
NO the lymphocyte count keeps dropping (even below 0.5 and less) . That is why we have to keep checking the counts regularly and sometimes even stop chemo if it falls way low.
YES the chemo will prevent disease progression. In a slowly dividing cancer YES chemo works less effectively but we CANNOT stop it for long.
It is a fine balance which needs to be kept between chemo doses and lymphocyte count.
What more you want to know regarding PET and MRI? Kindly let me know specifically and i will be happy to answer.
Regards
Dr Som MD
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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