Has wbc done in April. Had it done 3 times so far. Had anxiety attacks each time. My WBC has been 16 and this last one 17. I’m terrified it’s leukemia. Online says emotional stress can raise wbc. But I don’t know how high. All I’m doing is trying to sleep so I’m not obsessing over it. I’m a wreck. I’m trying to keep
Positive by thinking it could be my stomach or throat because I’ve been having horrible acid and gas. Burping after I eat or acid. I’m hoping that’s why it’s high. Since that’s an inflammation? I don’t know. I’m just scared. My husband works from 7:30 until 5/6 and I’m
Here alone. I don’t have anyone and it leaves so much space to obsess and worry.
I lost my mom not long ago. I used to talk to her 2-3 times a day. Now I have no one.
I just wish I had some reassurance that it could be something other than cancer.
I don’t have any symptoms that is associated with leukemia. Bruising, bleeding, swollen lymph nodes, fatigue, breathlessness etc.
My 3 blood tests were done I want to say every week. Or other week. They were close together.
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Calm down. You don't have any symptoms of leukaemia and your WBC can be increased by a whole range of factors - illness, allergy, inflammation drugs, non-cancerous blood conditions and rarely leukaemia. Some leukaemias never need treatment. Your WBC is also fairly stable, which is a good sign. If your doctor becomes concerned, I expect he will refer you to a specialist in blood conditions - a haematologist. They will do more tests to find out whether you have reason to be concerned.
Ty for your reply. My doctor did send my results to a hematologist about 2 weeks ago and is waiting a reply. I talked to her today and she said she was going to contact them again she said they might want me In for an appt or they might say to just monitor me.
Monitoring is likely - it's officially called watch and wait. I was diagnosed over 10 years ago at stage IV with the Leukaemia/Lymphoma supported by this community and I am still being monitored and haven't had treatment. A study in Australia found that doctors in Australia typically saw around 6 cases of lymphoma in their entire career - it's a rare disease. If you do end up with this form of leukaemia/lymphoma, you have found a great, supportive community here.
There's a special blood test called Flow Cytometry, which looks for lots of white blood cells that are duplicates or clones, indicating a blood cancer (lymphoma or leukaemia). If these are found in sufficient numbers , the test looks as cell membrane markers to determine which specific type.
And the hematologist do that test? Or when you go to the gp they have it done in your full blood count? Is that test from drawing blood from your veins or do
They have to stick a needle in your bones and get the bone marrow fluids?
The haematologist may order it and it's exactly the same process you went through for your earlier blpod tests. They just put your blood sample through a different test machine.
The bone marrow biopsy test you mention might be needed if it can't be determined why your WBC is high. They are nowadays rarely done if you are diagnosed with CLL. If you are lightly sedated, you don't feel it or remember it, but the site can be tender for a few days. Given your anxiety, IF you should need one, do ask to be lightly sedated.
Speaking of your anxiety, are you sure you wouldn't benefit from some medication to help you enjoy life more? While it's good if you can manage without, sometimes the benefits outweigh any downsides. There are anxiety support communities here too, where you can share techniques that help.
Ty for your reply. I wish I could relax but unfortunately I have anxiety/panic disorder. I’m not on meds for it as I’ve been doing ok with it mostly. Have had it since 18 and I’m 43 now. As for the wine, I don’t like the taste. And well I don’t drink might have a toast on New Years but that’s it.
I can appreciate that, I suffer from anxiety and depression myself. Medicated.
I know it's easier said than done. I myself have been waiting for 4 weeks with another 2 weeks to go. I've gotten the initial diagnosis of lymphoma with the belief being CLL as there were smudge cells present in my labs. I have to literally wait 6 weeks to get final answers. And that's after already seeing the hematologist/oncologist. But you'll drive yourself crazy thinking the worst. And as I learned firsthand, stay away from Dr Google.
Was there anything in your labs other than elevated WBC?
She said I’m the past my wbc sits at 12/13 but since April it was at 16, the 16 again going down slightly then this time it was 17 and my pallate was up by a few points. I want to say she said one thing was supposed to be at 400 but mine was at 500. She said it was up by a point or a few points. She said it was a niggle. But that was it. She had examined me the week before this last blood test and Did not find anything swollen. No fever that would indicate an infection.
A pathology lab does a blood smear test to look at the different blood cell types - they are automatically counted. Smudge (broken) cells may indicate this type of blood cancer, but it's the flow cytometry test which is definitive.
A smudge test can be part of a CBC or FBC and does not tell you if you have leukaemia or not.
Only your Doctor can reassure you as they have all your test results. If they say you don't have leukaemia or anything else serious, please believe them.
I'm sorry to hear you lost your Mom recently, she was obviously a big support for you. Wishing you all the best......
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