Neutropenia is a group of disorders seen in both adults and children. The cause is unclear. In the more severe forms, repeated infections may be life-threatening. They have normal numbers of neutrophils, but still get sick because their neutrophils can't fight bacteria. Neutropenia Caused by Cancer Chemotherapy Neutropenia affects as many as one in three patients receiving chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
Cancer cells grow and divide very quickly.
Chemotherapy works by acting mainly on quickly dividing cells. But these drugs can't tell the difference between a growing tumor and some normal cells, such as neutrophils, which also divide quickly Therefore, neutrophils are also killed by the chemotherapy Patients with Neutropenia can develop fever and infections. They must be hospitalized and given very strong and costly antibiotics. Chemotherapy may have to be delayed until the body can produce more neutrophils. Sometimes a lower dosage may have to be given, which may result in the treatment being less effective.