Info
Neutropenia
Monitoring
What it means
A drop in the number of neutrophils below normal values. It is a common side effect of chemotherapy and increases the risk of infections. The patient should avoid contact with people who are ill and report any fever immediately.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Full blood count (complete blood count)
- A blood test that counts the blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. During chemotherapy it is monitored frequently because the treatments can affect the production of blood cells.
- CA-125
- A tumor marker specific to ovarian cancer. It is measured in the blood and is used to monitor how the disease responds to treatment and to detect a possible recurrence. Its level can also be raised in other, benign conditions.
- Cancer follow-up (surveillance)
- Regular follow-up of the patient after active treatment has ended. It includes clinical consultations, imaging investigations and tests, at intervals set by the doctor. The aim is the early detection of a recurrence.
Other terms in “Monitoring”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.