Aunt recently diagnosed - a couple of questions

daughteroftheking · New User Joined: 04 Mar 2008 Posts: 4

I was told today that she has developed pneumonia, and that her white count was at zero. Is that possible for your white blood count to drop to nothing? She has been getting transfusions. They have already talked to her about end of life measures. She wants no life support or breathing assistance - which is fine - it is her choice. Does this mean that the end is closer than I want to believe, or is this strictly protocol? I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around how fast this deterioration is happening. Thanks so much for your answers already.

brainman

daughteroftheking, I am very sorry about your aunt lung cancer. While I have never heard of a white blood cell count doping literally to 0 cells, it can go very low... dangerously and life threatingly low in your aunts case. No one can really know how long she has to live. However, it does sound like you are looking at weeks or days rather than months. I am so sorry for this very bad news.
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pbj11 · Site Admin Joined: 12 May 2007 Posts: 970

Hi,

Sorry about this new development. It's not looking too pretty of a picture right now. Chemo plummets white counts, but action is usually taken before zero is reached.

The pneumonia is common with lung cancer, but she's also in a non-friendly environment (the hospital) for infections. Her poor body is taking a beating and there is no way of knowing if a rally will happen or if she will slip away.

She is in danger, but it may not be imminent. Hospitals like to have DNR's on the books so in case something happens, they know what to do. They talked with my husband a few months before he died about a DNR, although we did have healthcare power of attorney papers with his wishes. He also opted for no ventilator. It's a good choice.

I'm sorry that she is having to fight so hard. May God be with you all.

PBJ
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Husband diagnosed with NSCLC Stage IV. (Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer) Fought & lived 2 1/2 years with multiple lines of treatment.

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