During chemotherapy (chemo) your doctor and care team will keep track of your blood cell counts. Most chemo medications are toxic to cancer cells and to normal, healthy blood-forming cells. If chemo damage causes certain blood cell levels to get too low, your doctor may need to adjust your chemo plan. And you may need to take some extra time to recover before starting a new cycle of chemo.

Your doctor will know how best to handle serious chemo side effects. Let your doctor know how you are feeling throughout your treatment.

Blood Cell-Related Chemo Side Effects

The following serious chemo side effects may occur during chemo when blood cells get too low:

  • The Chemotherapy and Infection Discussion Guide can help you understand your
    risk of infection

    Infection can be a serious side effect of strong chemo. Find out the factors that affect your risk of infection. Simply answer a few questions, and then print your results to share with your doctor.

    Use the Chemotherapy and Infection Discussion Guide to find out more.

  • Want to learn about specific chemo side effects?