Effects on your bone marrow
Bone marrow is a sponge-like substance that produces blood cells in the hollow spaces of bones. It is sensitive to most types of chemotherapy but the following blood cells are especially sensitive:
White blood cells help your body to fight infection. If your white cell count (WCC) is low, you will be more at risk of infection. Signs of infection include a high temperature above 100 F or 37.5 °C. If you feel unwell at any time, telephone CCC immediately. Whilst you are having chemotherapy you should avoid people with infections such as ‘flu or chicken pox.
Platelets help your blood to clot. If you notice that you bruise easily, have pinprick type reddish/purple spots on your body, bleed from your nose or gums, or pass bloodstained urine please contact us for advice.
Red Blood Cells carry oxygen to all the cells of the body. If you notice that you are unusually short of breath, feel tired or look pale please contact us for advice.
About 10 days after your treatment your blood count will be at its lowest. With most chemotherapy, we will ask you to attend your nearest hospital for a blood test around this time. We call this an interim count. The hospital will telephone the result to CCC and if there is a problem, we will contact you at home and advise you. You are welcome to telephone the ward or day case unit in the evening, if you would like to know the results.
Very occasionally, when your white cells are very low and you may develop signs of an infection we may bring you into CCC to give you intravenous antibiotics. You may also need to come into hospital for a blood or platelet transfusion if these become too low.
Bone marrow is a sponge-like substance that produces blood cells in the hollow spaces of bones. It is sensitive to most types of chemotherapy but the following blood cells are especially sensitive:
White blood cells help your body to fight infection. If your white cell count (WCC) is low, you will be more at risk of infection. Signs of infection include a high temperature above 100 F or 37.5 °C. If you feel unwell at any time, telephone CCC immediately. Whilst you are having chemotherapy you should avoid people with infections such as ‘flu or chicken pox.
Platelets help your blood to clot. If you notice that you bruise easily, have pinprick type reddish/purple spots on your body, bleed from your nose or gums, or pass bloodstained urine please contact us for advice.
Red Blood Cells carry oxygen to all the cells of the body. If you notice that you are unusually short of breath, feel tired or look pale please contact us for advice.
About 10 days after your treatment your blood count will be at its lowest. With most chemotherapy, we will ask you to attend your nearest hospital for a blood test around this time. We call this an interim count. The hospital will telephone the result to CCC and if there is a problem, we will contact you at home and advise you. You are welcome to telephone the ward or day case unit in the evening, if you would like to know the results.
Very occasionally, when your white cells are very low and you may develop signs of an infection we may bring you into CCC to give you intravenous antibiotics. You may also need to come into hospital for a blood or platelet transfusion if these become too low.
- See more at: http://www.ccotrust.nhs.uk/patients/treatment/chemotherapy/sideeffects/bonemarrow.html#sthash.Sw5FU5vh.dpuf
