Low hemoglobin - does it mean patient is having stage 3?

[nurgul]

Dear all. Just read that low hemoglobin could mean that patient is having stage 3 of cll. Is this always often a case? Thank you.

[PlanetaryKim]

It certainly was true in my case. However there can be so many causes of low hemoglobin that, if that is the only symptom you are experiencing, you need to have all the possible causes investigated. Could be anything from iron- -deficiency anemia to autoimmune hemolytic anemia, or quite a few other possibilities. In my case, I not only had chronically low Hgb, but had also developed very low neutrophils and sort of low platelets. So it was looking like CLL/bone marrow was the reason. But if your only blood issue is low Hgb, it could be something else. Ask your doctor to investigate.

Good luck!

kim

[AussieNeil Administrator]

Your haemoglobin needs to drop under 110 to be categorised as stage III under the Rai staging system and under 100 to be in Binet stage C.

How low is your haemoglobin? Has it been confirmed as caused by your CLL? With CLL, I wouldn't be too concerned about staging, but the rate at which changes are happening. (I've been in stage IV for 8 years and I'm still in watch and wait).

Neil

[nurgul in reply to AussieNeil]

Thank you.

[Hidden in reply to nurgul]

Hi Nurgul

When I was diagnosed my haemoglobin had dropped to 52 which is pretty much deaths door, I'd had cll I'm guessing roughly 15-20 years prior to being diagnosed.

I've had six blood transfusions and began treatment immediately last October and thanks to the power of Rituximab and Ibrutinib my levels are all very good.

Once your dads team have concluded the reasoning for your dads drop in his levels they'll decide on a treatment plan and in no time your dad will hopefully be back to his old self.

As Neil rightly suggested if his haemoglobin levels are very low there is the possibility he'll have a few blood transfusions until any treatment he has clears his marrow and it's able to work properly again.

Stuart

[MsChief in reply to AussieNeil]

Neil - you truly inspire a lot of people. Carole❤️