Chemotherapy works by stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells, which grow
and divide quickly. But it can also affect normal, healthy cells that are fast growing,
too.
- One type of healthy cell that is sometimes affected is called a
Neutrophil
A white blood cell that helps fight infectionneutrophil
- Neutrophils are white blood cells White
blood cells
Cells that fight infection in the body that are important in fighting
infection
- Chemotherapy may reduce the number of healthy neutrophil cells
- A low level of Neutrophils
White blood cells that help fight infectionneutrophils is called severe neutropenia Neutropenia
An abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood (nu-tro-PEEN-ee-ah)
If you have neutropenia Neutropenia
An abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood or a low
level of
neutrophilsNeutrophils
White blood cells that help fight infection, you may
be at risk for infections. If your neutrophilNeutrophil
A white blood cell that helps fight infection level gets very low, you may get severe
neutropeniaNeutropenia
An abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood.