Hiya. My wife was on EC a few months ago before she started a second type of chemo. From the Oncologist appointment we had just after, this is what i remember. The chemo leaves your body in around 3 days. Hence why you need to flush the loo twice for those 3 days before someone uses it. The immune system differs from person to person. My wife was, and still is given home injections for 5 days (starts 2 days after the chemo is administered) to build her immune system up. Iirc, your immune system begins to recover from 3 weeks on. But yeah, how long it takes to get back to "normal" can differ. Sometimes months.

Hello Donna and thanks for posting,

I hope you are feeling alright after having your first treatment with EC.

It can take a few days for the body to break down and get rid of chemotherapy but with EC, I think most of it will be gone after 3 or 4 days.

Chemotherapy can reduce the number of white blood cells that fight infection, but it usually takes several days before they reach their lowest point. With EC this can be after about 8 to 14 days from having treatment. Then from this lowest point it usually takes about a week for the white blood cells to pick up again, but it might take less or more time as everyone is different. And although some people's immune system is affected as a result of the drop in white blood cells this doesn't happen to everyone. 

I am sure you have been told by the chemotherapy unit what you need to do prevent yourself from getting really ill with an infection if your immune system is low. The key thing is to follow their advice to the letter and not to hesitate to get in touch with them.  

Chemotherapy side effects are very variable and not everyone gets them to a serious extent. 

I hope your treatment goes smoothly.

If you want to talk anything over please give us a call on,  Freephone 0808 800 4040 -we are here from 9-5 weekdays. 

Best wishes, 

Julia

Good morning and thank you for the advice xx