Diet is an important part of cancer treatment because it provides nutrients and energy for the body to help fight the cancer. Regardless of the type of cancer or the current treatment protocol, there are foods that are suitable for most, if not...
If you're in chemotherapy for cancer, you've probably been told the chemicals kill good cells along with cancerous ones. Some of those are the white blood cells that manage your immune system. You can tell adults to keep their distance if they are...
Your white blood cell count, or WBC count, refers to how many white blood cells you have in your blood. Doctors may order a WBC count as part of a routine checkup or to check whether you may have a disease. An unusually low or high WBC count may...
Patients undergoing treatment for cancer have numerous concerns, ranging from choosing a health care provider to covering the costs of treatment to accepting the uncertainty of their own prognosis. While undergoing chemotherapy or radiation...
During a battle with cancer, the body needs sufficient nutrients so it can work with the treatments to fight the cancer. Some cancer patients may have an appetite throughout the battle, but others with suffer loss of appetite due to side effects...
Leukemia is a cancer that usually begins in the white blood cells, causing the cells to multiply rapidly and function abnormally, notes the Mayo Clinic. The white blood cells are cells that fight infections in the body. As it progresses, the...
Cancer patients, especially those who are in the midst of treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, must follow special diets to ensure they get the nutrition they need to stay strong and help them heal. However, eating a healthy diet when you...
Some oncologists recommend avoiding fresh fruits and vegetables for patients undergoing chemotherapy. This recommendation is controversial and lacks substantial evidence according to a 2000 Centers for Disease Control report. If you have questions...
White blood cells, or leukocytes, are vital components of a child's immune system and play a major role in fighting infection. Leukopenia, the medical term used for abnormally low numbers of white blood cells, can have numerous causes, including...
A person who has an Absolute Neutrophil Count, or ANC, of 500 cells/mm3 is considered neutropenic, states the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. When the ANC is this low, the person is at an increased risk of developing an infection....
Preventing secondary infections is a nutritional priority for cancer patients. Cancer treatment may lower the number of neutrophils -- white blood cells that help your body resist infection -- in your bloodstream. A low absolute neutrophil count,...
