Infection Risk During Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is usually given in cycles, with periods of rest that give your body time to regain strength and replace healthy cells lost during treatment. However, neutropenia, a low number of certain white blood cells, is a common side effect of certain types of chemotherapy that can disrupt your treatment schedule.

A low white blood cell count means your immune system isn't as strong as it could be and that you are at increased risk for infection. The fewer white blood cells you have and the longer you remain without enough, the more at risk you become for developing an infection, which in some cases can be life-threatening.

As a result, your doctor may need to delay cancer treatment or reduce your chemotherapy dose until your white blood cell count increases and the possibility of infection is reduced. If you have a low white blood cell count and you develop a fever or get an infection, in some instances, hospitalization may be required until your infection is cured and your number of white blood cells returns to levels high enough to fight future infections. Talk to your doctor about how to help lower your risk of infection.