Blood in the stool and urine are less common. A child with low platelet counts may bruise easily or have a bloody nose frequently. When the platelet count is low, your child can bleed easily. Platelets work to make clots to help stop bleeding if a blood vessel is cut or injured. If your child's hemoglobin is very low, he may receive a red blood cell transfusion. When the hemoglobin level is low, a child may become pale and tire easily, and his heart rate and respiratory rate may increase, because of a lack of oxygen. RBCs contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the body tissues and provides the red color of blood. When your child receives chemotherapy, the blood counts will be checked often. Various substances, such as proteins, salts and sugar, are also carried within the plasma.Ĭhildren who receive chemotherapy or whose disease affects the bone marrow may have many changes in blood counts. Whole blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and clotting factors, as well as liquid called plasma. Blood is made in the bone marrow (a soft spongy tissue within our bones). Oxygen and nourishment are carried by the blood to all body cells. However, always talk to your doctor or dietitian before taking dietary supplements, because some of these products should not be taken with certain chemotherapy treatments.įor nutrition guidance and practical support, get involved with our Cancer Survivorship Program.Blood is the red fluid that goes to all parts of the body through the veins and arteries. The body uses vitamin B12 and folate to make WBCs. If your diet is poor, or you're having trouble eating, you can take a multivitamin or supplement with vitamin B12 and folate. Some sources of quality protein are fish, eggs, poultry, beef, milk, Greek yogurt and beans. Our bodies use materials from the protein we eat to make new WBCs. Good quality protein is important for cancer survivors. Cook meats completely (beef, chicken, fish and eggs) to kill all bacteria Wash your hands many times throughout the day, and every time before you prepare or eat food Use antibacterial soap and warm water and scrub your hands for 15 to 30 seconds If you have leukopenia, be extra cautious to avoid infection. Unpasteurized beverages, including fruit and vegetable juice, beer and milk. However, wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before you eat them to stay safe.Īvoid these foods (to reduce your risk of infection): You don't need to avoid fresh fruit and vegetables, because it hasn't been shown to reduce the number of major infections. Which diet is best for people with leukopenia?Ĭurrently, research doesn't support specific foods or diets that can increase white blood cells. Most cancer survivors, however, will recover their WBCs much more quickly. Commonly, WBC counts will return to normal after cancer therapy is completed. The amount of time it takes for WBCs to return to normal varies from patient to patient. Low WBC counts can occur at different times throughout chemotherapy treatments. The medical term for low white blood cell counts is leukopenia. As part of your immune system, WBCs help fight infections. White blood cells (WBCs) are a type of blood cell found in your blood and lymph tissues. This article provided by Caitlyn DeLaney, graduate student in medical nutrition.
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