Low Platelet Count or Thrombocytopenia ... When you have cancer or when you receive treatment for cancer, your levels of certain blood cells can go below normal.SkiptoContentEspañolSearchMenuYouarehereHome>CopingWithCancer>Physical,Emotional,andSocialEffectsofCancer>ManagingPhysicalSideEffects>LowPlateletCountorThrombocytopeniaRequestPermissionsLowPlateletCountorThrombocytopeniaApprovedbytheCancer.NetEditorialBoard,08/2020Whenyouhavecancerorwhenyoureceivetreatmentforcancer,yourlevelsofcertainbloodcellscangobelownormal.Plateletsareoneofthesetypesofbloodcells.Themedicaltermsforalowlevelofplateletsare"lowplateletcount"or"thrombocytopenia."Plateletshelpstopbleedingwhenneeded.Forexample,ifyoucutyourself,plateletsmakethebloodcellsclumptogether,orclot.Thisblocksoffthecutbloodvesselssotheycanheal.Normalplateletlevelsinyourbloodareimportantforyourhealth.Youcandevelopalowplateletcountifyourbodydoesnotmakeenoughplateletsorifyourbodylosesordestroysplatelets.Alowplateletcountisacommonsideeffectofcancerandtreatment.Forexample,chemotherapycanloweryourplateletcount.Whatarethesignsofalowplateletcount?Ifyourplateletcountislow,youmaynothaveanysymptomsorsigns.Asimplebloodtestcouldfindthisconditionbeforeyounoticeanychanges.Ifyouhaveanyofthesesigns,talktoyourhealthcareteamrightaway:Morebruises,orworsebruises,thanusualSmallpurpleorreddotsunderyourskinNosebleedsorbleedinggumsBlackorbloody-lookingbowelmovementsRedorpinkurineVomitwithbloodinitAnunusuallyheavymenstrualperiodSevereheadachesMuscleorjointpainFeelingweakordizzyWhenyouhavealowplateletcount,yourbodymayhavedifficultystoppingbleedingfromanosebleedoracut.Managingalowplateletcountandothercancersideeffectsisanimportantpartofyourmedicalcareandtreatment.Thistypeofcareiscalledpalliativecareorsupportivecare.Whatcancausealowplateletcount?Thereareseveralcommoncauses,including:Chemotherapy.Sometypesofcancermedications,suchaschemotherapy,damagebonemarrow.Thisisthetissueinsideyourboneswhereyourbodymakesplatelets.Alowplateletcountfromchemotherapy