Cancer can impact white blood cells in various ways. For instance, certain types of cancer originate in the blood-forming tissues, such as leukemia and lymphoma, directly affecting WBCs. In these cancers, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that do not function properly. Additionally, cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can reduce the number of white blood cells, leading to a condition called neutropenia, which makes patients more susceptible to infections.
