Medical
Blood Count
What is blood?
Blood contains different types of cells circulating within
the body suspended in a fluid called plasma. These cells include red blood
cells, which carry oxygen to the body's tissues; white blood cells, which are an
important part of the immune system; and platelets, which are involved in blood
clotting.
How does radiation/chemo treatment affect one's blood?
The goal of cancer treatment – both chemotherapy and radiation therapy – is to
interfere with the growth of cancer cells and ultimately destroy them.
However,
some of your body’s normal cells, the hair follicles, the blood cells and the
cells lining in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract are sensitive to these
treatments and may also be damaged. Treatments also affecting these cells cause
symptoms known as “side effects.”
Some treatments can slow or decrease the production of blood cells because the
bone marrow is affected...
That is why, during the course of your therapy, the doctor will take samples
of your blood to closely watch your blood cell “count.”
| Cell Type |
Function |
Problems if not enough |
| Red |
Delivers oxygen to the body's tissues. When low, your
body tissues do not get enough oxygen to do their work. This results in a condition called anemia. |
Fatigue |
| White |
White blood cells help protect the body by fighting
bacteria, fungi or viruses that cause infections; it's your immune
system. Therefore, it is especially important to protect yourself
against infection when your white cell count is low. |
Infection |
| Platelets |
Platelets help your blood to clot, preventing
excessive bleeding. If you are injured you may bleed or bruise more easily than usual if your platelet count is low. |
Non-stoppable bleeding |
|
