Blood counts are routine during treatment for childhood cancers. Blood counts are ordered by the doctor to monitor a child’s response to treatment and, in the leukemias, to make sure that there are no cancer cells in the peripheral blood. The following external web sites have excellent information on blood counts.
A nursing education page that is very straightforward and understandable. This page also discusses the clinical consequences and management of neutropenia.
WHAT IS AN ANC (ABSOLUTE NEUTROPHIL COUNT)?
Blood counts and explanation and calculation of ANC.
University of Iowa site that uses cartoon type characters to explain blood counts to children.