Interpreting blood results

[Ge77y]

Apologies for asking this - I know it is in here somewhere but can't find it when I search. I'd like to be able to interpret my blood results a little better now I have about 2 years of them so can someone point me to them. Thanks Gerry

[Newdawn Administrator]

Somebody may be able to post the CLLSA 'Understanding your blood results' but I can't locate it at the moment.

This may help;

cllsociety.org/toolbox/norm...

The most comprehensive list I've come across is this;

newportnaturalhealth.com/20...

Newdawn

[Ge77y in reply to Newdawn]

Thanks Newdawn will check it out. 😀

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Ge77y]

The most important progression count in CLL is found in the CBC section called 'differentials'....

The absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) indicates CLL progression. Don't follow fluctuations test to test, but look for trends over time... perhaps every 6 months or annually...

It is not the lymphocyte percent...the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) will be indicated as ALC, or # LYMPH or some variation like that...

There is also and absolute neutrophil count, which bears monitoring during and after treatment ....

But again... look for trends in all blood counts...

~chris

[Ge77y in reply to Cllcanada]

Thanks CLLCanada - I'll check that out.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Ge77y]

If you know your percent of lymphocytes and your WBC you can calculate your ALC...

ALC = WBC X (lymphocyte % / 100)

What this does is to remove the neutophils from your WBC count... they have a mind if their own , go up and down... and since they make up about 70% of the WBC, they can actually confuse the issue of B cell increasing...

But nothing is perfect in CLL and the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) isn't just B cells, there are T cells and NK cells in that count as well... but the latter two are fairly stable, so... increases in absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) over time, will be B cells... indicating CLL progresion...

Generally, when the absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) over 30K....doubles in 6 months (LTD), this triggers a pretreatment discussion... and other factors are assessed... perhaps a BMB and CTscan will be done, and questions of fatigue, night sweats, weight loss and closer tracking of other blood counts like platelets and RBC...low grade fever, anemia, brusing etc.

LDT is lymphocyte doubling time... a count goes from say 62K to 122K in 6 month...

~chris

[Ge77y in reply to Cllcanada]

Thanks Chris, that is a very important difference. My lymph abs have only moved from 17 to 28.9 over 2 years. whilst the lymphocyte has moved from 77.5 to 85.9 in the same period. I'm not up for treatment at this stage and am on 12 monthly visits. The only change I notice is that fatigue gets worse .. But then I'm not good at sitting still but getting better at having rest days. Gerry

[HAIRBEAR_UK Founder Admin in reply to Newdawn]

The CLL Support Association website section on Understanding Your Blood results can be found here cllsupport.org.uk/cll-sll/s...

It is also located through a link in the side bar of the Start here section of the new website cllsupport.org.uk/cll-sll/s... thanks Newdawn for noting that finding this was not straight forward we will look into this.

[Ge77y in reply to HAIRBEAR_UK]

Thanks Hairbear - I am familiar with search techniques and was getting a broken link to the information. Appreciate your assistance, Gerry

[sun_flower]

Thanks newdawn l also found that very interesting

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

And Gerry, NEVER apologize for asking a question! Not only did you get an answer, but others did as well, and hopefully the search issue here will be straightened out thanks to you.

Pat

[Ge77y in reply to MsLockYourPosts]

Thanks Pat

[AussieNeil Administrator]

And now you can download a workbook to check your trends. You'll find it at the bottom of the CLL Support Association's page on "Understanding Your Blood Tests"

cllsupport.org.uk/cll-sll/s...

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

Neil