Anthony Stopped Daily Chemo on May 28 for four weeks.

Anthony's ANC was only 300 on his regular visit to Primary Children's Hospital
on May 28.  They did do the chemo treatment in the spinal chord because it
had been five weeks since he had that.

On June 4, Anthony's ANC was 100, June 11, 200 and June 18, 400, however the
Home Health Care Nurse couldn't access his port.  It became an all DAY process
with blood thinners and other medications.  Finally they poked his finger and he
bled all over, due to the blood thinners.  He was bleeding most of the night.

Anthony developed quite a severe rash on his face around his nose, on his cheeks
and jaw.  On his regular visit to Primary Children's Hospital on June 25, Anthony's
ANC was back up to 3,000 which is in the normal range.  They didn't give him any
chemo at the hospital but started his daily chemo at half the amount he had
been receiving on June 25.


       Absolute neutrophil count: The real number of white blood cells (WBCs) that are neutrophils. The absolute neutrophil count is commonly called the ANC.  The normal range for the ANC = 1.5 to 8.0 (1,500 to 8,000/mm3).

Neutrophils are key components in the system of defense against infection. An absence or scarcity of neutrophils (a condition called neutropenia) makes a person vulnerable to infection. After chemotherapy, radiation, or a blood or marrow transplant, the ANC is usually depressed and then slowly rises, reflecting the fact that the bone marrow is recovering and new blood cells are beginning to grow and mature.

In practical clinical terms, a normal ANC is 1.5 or higher; a "safe" ANC is 500-1500; a low ANC is less than 500. A safe ANC means that the patient's activities do not need to be restricted (on the basis of the ANC).