What causes white blood cell count to be low?
White blood cells play an important role in protecting us from infection. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell. Neutrophils are our body’s first line of defense against infection. They surround and destroy foreign micro-organisms, such as bacteria, to keep us healthy. It is common for cancer patients to experience low white blood cells, especially those receiving chemotherapy. Chemotherapy can dramatically reduce the number of neutrophils produced by your bone marrow. Having too few neutrophils is called neutropenia. If you have neutropenia, you have an increased risk of infection.
