People posted about the doubling rate etc. well mine doubled in a month but maybe it's just a strange fluke??? IF I DID IT RIGHT: 8/7/1429.74 (WBC) Absolute22.57 Lymph %: 76.0
9/9/1448.6 (WBC) Absolute44.7 Lymph % 92.0
The only thing that changed is I went from no work to back to work FT teaching with a principal from ____. I also though lost 13 pounds over the summer so I would think that would be a +.
I emailed the oncologist but haven't heard back from him (I know it's only been 2 days but I'm impatient...) do you think I should redo the blood work? Any ideas?
Thank you!
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rlyndecker
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No, it was discussed in June because at the end of the school year my Lymph Nodes were HUGE around the neck area. My symptoms: extreme fatigue (Even when not teaching), off and on night sweats (they seem to be less frequent than they were 6-12 months ago but for a while they were nightly); sore throat all the time...
I think you need to wait for your oncologist to make a full assessment of your situation. Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) doubling in 6 months is an indication of disease progression, but it is only one factor among others.
It is important to have your blood work done at the same lab, and if possible the same time of day and under similar circumstances.
Certainly might have it done again, tests can vary...
The oncologist finally called. He said we're just going to continue to watch since I get my blood work done every month. I do have my blood work done about the same time every month and at the same lab...Unfortunately, circumstances from mid-Aug.-beg. of June are NOT the same as summer for me. That can't be helped...Be curious to see what Oct. blood work shows...
Have you had the throat cultured? Acid reflux could be something to consider as a cause, in addition to some type of infection. I would also ask about having your Ig levels tested if the throat issue is not resolving and shows infection as the cause.
I was wondering what acid reflux has to do with ALC? I have issues with acid reflux and I am on medication to control the symptoms. Does it influence the blood counts?
Shazie, proton pump inhibitors may affect red blood cell production, making you anaemic because they can block the protein bound form of vitamin B12 absorption, but I'm unaware of any influence on ALC, other than perhaps in response to inflammation from the reflux. Perhaps Pat can clarify? If your medication for acid reflux is effecting your blood counts, it would be reflected in your haemoglobin and red blood cell levels.
Here's a pretty technical article on this from Pharmacology Weekly, but it is nicely summarised in the Take Home Points section:
As the article states, if you must stay on a protein pump inhibitor and are becoming anaemic, you can counter the effect by taking a free/unbound B12 supplement. Given CLL can also cause anaemia, you should discuss this with your GP and CLL specialist.
Have your B12 levels checked, and you may need a monthly jab if you have no Intrinsic Factor... [IF] supplements will do little... no uptake... no good...
Also have a test for a gut bacteria caller H.pylori...
CLL masked these problems in my case, but correcting my B12 though injection and a course of antibiotics for H.pylori made a great difference for me...
H.pylori also has links to low platelets in CLL... get tested!
This is the 2nd time someone has suggested B12 levels checked...I am going to bring that up next time I see the oncologist. My roommate JUST the other day said the same thing, she read an article about it in re: to acid reflux too. I don't have Anemia, yet....It's always right on the border.
Not sure if I have had a throat culture, I just had a test for swallowing (my memory is gone right now- long week at school then worked all weekend for school) and found out I don't swallow correctly so I am supposed to get Speech Therapy for that eventually...
Never heard of H.pylori have to look that out too...
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