The short answer
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is a measure of neutrophils, the white blood cells that are the body's main defense against infection. Chemotherapy can lower ANC. The lower it is, the higher the risk of infection. Your care team uses it to plan treatment and to tell you how to protect yourself.
ANC (absolute neutrophil count) measures neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.
Neutrophils are the body's main defense against infection.
Cancer treatment such as chemotherapy can lower ANC.
The lower the ANC, the higher the risk of infection.
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The short version
ANC stands for absolute neutrophil count. It measures how many neutrophils are in your blood. Neutrophils are the most common type of white blood cell. They are your body's main defense against infection. You may see ANC listed with your blood count results.
Why ANC matters in cancer care
Cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy, may lower ANC. The National Cancer Institute explains that the lower the ANC, the higher the risk of getting an infection. It notes that an ANC below 500 means there is a high risk of infection. A lower-than-normal number of neutrophils is called neutropenia.
Ask your care team how your ANC affects your treatment plan and what precautions they recommend for you.
If you get a fever or signs of infection
Your care team will tell you when to call them. If you have a fever or any sign of infection during cancer treatment, call your care team right away, even at night or on a weekend. If you can't reach them, or you feel very sick, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Normal ranges vary by lab
Your report lists a reference range, the range that lab calls normal. Labs often use different testing methods, so they often use different ranges. That means results from different labs can't always be compared directly. Your care team knows which lab ran your test and how to read your result.
What to ask
Ask what your ANC is and what it means for your next treatment. Ask what signs of infection to watch for, and exactly when and how to reach your team. Their advice for you is what applies to you.
Sources
Common questions
What is a low ANC called?
A lower-than-normal number of neutrophils is called neutropenia. Your care team will tell you what your number means for you and what to do.
Why does my ANC matter during chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy can lower ANC. The National Cancer Institute notes that the lower the ANC, the higher the risk of getting an infection. Your care team uses your ANC to help plan your treatment.
What should I do if my ANC is low?
Follow your care team's instructions. If you get a fever or any sign of infection during treatment, call your care team right away. If you can't reach them, or you feel very sick, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
Why was my treatment delayed because of my ANC?
Ask your care team why your treatment was delayed and what to expect.
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Sources last checked: 2026-09-27 what this meansLast updated: 2026-09-27Next planned review: 2027-09-27
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Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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