lymphocytes numbers

[JGCLL2017]

at time of diagnosis absolute lymphocites are 5.7, on blood

are those many in your experience?

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

At time of diagnosis I knew only that my WBC were 20.

[Newdawn Administrator]

Welcome JGCLL, with a normal range from 1.3 - 3.5, that's quite a low ALC. In fact barely out of range. Are you newly diagnosed? This may help you to understand your blood results;

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

Best wishes,

Newdawn

[JGCLL2017 in reply to Newdawn]

thank you for your answer!!and the link

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

Other than monitoring doubling time of your lymphocyte count when they exceed 30, don't pay as much attention to your lymphocyte count as you do to other blood counts, particularly your platelet and red blood counts, where lowering counts are one trigger for starting treatment (whereas there's no lymphocyte count upper limit beyond which we should start treatment, according to internationally recognised treatment iWCLL guidelines). Our tumour burden can often be more in our nodes, spleen and bone marrow than in our blood and they are active in these places while dormant in our blood. You can also be reassured that 5.7 is a relatively low count at diagnosis. Some of our members have counts 40 times higher and are still untreated.

Neil

[JGCLL2017 in reply to AussieNeil]

very informative and full of hope

[JGCLL2017 in reply to JGCLL2017]

thank you so much. hope you are doing well

[peas50 in reply to AussieNeil]

Thanks for posting JGCLL and for the response Neil. Neil...great answers...my specialist gave me similar advice last week. I have had widespread lymph node involvement from diagnosis. Have enjoyed a couple of years of stability. However, my lymphocyte count has been increasing a little too steadily of late. At one stage last year, I was even looking forward to the prospect of 12 monthly appointments... unfortunately, I'm now back to 3 - 4 months and have an upcoming cat scan. I too have always been interested in the lymphocyte count. I've learnt that the count itself isn't too important - however its trend is. If it rises in a steady upward trend, then closer watch is required. From what I understand, our white blood cells don't die off like they should - they just hang about, being a nuisance and as such, 'crowd out' the good cells in the process. Hence, our immune system is put under pressure, along with other systems. (Hope this is correct interpretation - obviously I have no medical training!) Just the thought of a rising trend can easy send a person into that slippery state of worry. To combat it, I remind myself to leave the worry with my excellent specialist whom I trust to make the right decisions about my health. Thanks to him, I'm able to 'get on with life'. Sending you both the best of thoughts. Jules. x

[JGCLL2017 in reply to peas50]

so let me understand:for 6 years lymph count trending slow at different rate, now at 5. so could i still have hidden lymoh nodes even though i dont have other symptoms?

[peas50 in reply to JGCLL2017]

I'm not sure, as I don't have that medical knowledge. In my experience, swollen lymph nodes were my first indication. I had glandular fever in 2011 and had several lymph nodes swell - at the back of my neck, under my arms and in my groin. My doctor at the time, dismissed them as 'hormonal'. Months later, we happened to be on holidays and our son was visiting. He was studying to become a doctor at the time, and noticed the lumps under my arms and pleaded with me to go to the doctor again. I did...same result - 'hormonal'. Then I developed an infection (mastitis - strange!) and saw a different doctor who sent me straight to the hospital for scans etc... and then on to our state capital to see a specialist...further tests - bone marrow - ct scan etc...CLL/SLL diagnosed. We have lymph nodes throughout our body...I have swollen lymph nodes in my stomach, neck, underarms and groins. There are many, but none too large yet - so I'm lucky - about 1 to 2 centimetres. Hope this info helps.

[JGCLL2017]

also being 37 my life expectancy is bad right?

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to JGCLL2017]

New treatments are extending CLL lives almost to the statistical averages...

Being young can be an advantage... less chances of other medical issues that are common in people over 70 yo.

~chris