When you hit zero WBC your immune system is wiped out and you cannot fight infection. Your body is going through a total reboot like a computer and as your stem cells engraft you are a newborn with absolutely no vaccine immunity. On the other side is a purified world where you get a new lease on life. The oncology team is trying to get rid of all bad cancer cells and subsequent maintenance keeps you that way- for a period of time. You will relapse or refract as I did so my doc said “you did so nice let’s do it twice!” So I’m scheduled in less than a month to go through this again. I predict if I can do it ten times I will go back in time. lol

PS you will lose your hair

The high dose chemo is probably Melphalan and is injected over time while you chew on ice cubes. That’s to prevent mouth sores. I remember I got it one afternoon and was allowed to go home to sleep that night and reported back to the hospital at 7am the next morning. You really don’t feel anything until it takes effect some 5 days later when your WBC goes to zero.

And what happens after WBC goes down to zero?