Neutropenia/gum disease following radiation treatment for melanoma – long term side effects

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Neutropenia/gum disease following radiation treatment for melanoma – long term side effects

This topic has 4 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by Nicky.

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- April 25, 2011 at 10:44 am
- Quote
Nicky
Participant
I had radiation treatment in 2001 and again in 2005 for melanoma. Both times during radiation treatment, I developed neutropenia which means that the bone marrow does not produce enough white blood cells (neutrophils) which can leave you open to infections and viruses etc and then my blood tests returned to normal after treatment

I had radiation treatment in 2001 and again in 2005 for melanoma. Both times during radiation treatment, I developed neutropenia which means that the bone marrow does not produce enough white blood cells (neutrophils) which can leave you open to infections and viruses etc and then my blood tests returned to normal after treatment

I have recently been feeling unwell and the doctor suspects I may have cyclic neutropenia which is quite rare and in "laymans terms" neutropenia happens quite often. No-one else in my family have this, and I wonder if it could have been triggered by the radiation treatment, viruses, bacterial infections. I have problems with my teeth and gums for the past five years, they always feel sore and I feel tired quite often, like my body is always fighting something. I also have lymphoedema but that is under control.

I was wondering if anyone else has been diagnosed with cyclic neutropenia this long after cancer treatment, whether they have problems with their gums and are more susceptible to infections.

LOL. Long term survivor 11 years NED

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- - April 25, 2011 at 12:46 pm
  - Quote
  nicoli
  Participant
  I am not familiar with what you are describing. I am just beginning scalp radiation and am told my only side effects should be skin reaction and mild to severe fatigue.
  
  What area of your body was radiated?
  
  Nicki, Stage 3b
  - April 25, 2011 at 12:52 pm
    
    Quote
    Nicky
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your reply. I was radiated in 2001 in the right abdomen, groin and upper leg area as there was one groin lymph node with melanoma and some extracapsulary spread. In 2005 on the left arm where I had a rare type of melanoma called a desmoplastic melanoma (grade 4).
  - April 25, 2011 at 12:52 pm
    
    Quote
    Nicky
    Participant
    
    Thanks for your reply. I was radiated in 2001 in the right abdomen, groin and upper leg area as there was one groin lymph node with melanoma and some extracapsulary spread. In 2005 on the left arm where I had a rare type of melanoma called a desmoplastic melanoma (grade 4).
- - April 25, 2011 at 12:46 pm
  - Quote
  nicoli
  Participant
  I am not familiar with what you are describing. I am just beginning scalp radiation and am told my only side effects should be skin reaction and mild to severe fatigue.
  
  What area of your body was radiated?
  
  Nicki, Stage 3b

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