A patient with lung cancer is being treated with chemotherapy and radiation. Which lab values will the nurse monitor to detect bone marrow suppression? Select all that apply.

A. Platelet count: Chemotherapy and radiation commonly suppress megakaryocyte production in the bone marrow, leading to thrombocytopenia. A decreased platelet count increases the risk of spontaneous bleeding and impaired clot formation. Monitoring platelet levels allows early detection of marrow suppression and guides precautions or interventions. B. Red blood cell (RBC) count: Myelosuppressive therapy can reduce erythropoiesis, resulting in anemia. A declining RBC count may lead to fatigue, dyspnea, and reduced oxygen-carrying capacity. Serial monitoring helps assess the severity of marrow suppression and determine the need for interventions such as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents or transfusion. C. Basophil count: Basophils represent a very small fraction of circulating leukocytes and are not used as a primary indicator of bone marrow suppression. While they originate from the marrow, changes in basophil count are neither sensitive nor specific markers of chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression. Other white blood cell parameters provide more clinically meaningful data. D. Neutrophil count: Neutropenia is a major and potentially life-threatening consequence of bone marrow suppression, significantly increasing the risk of infection. The absolute neutrophil count (ANC) is especially important in oncology patients to guide infection precautions and determine chemotherapy dosing adjustments. Monitoring neutrophils is critical for early identification of immunosuppression.