WBC doubling

[puppy43]

Hi there,

just had annual blood tests while on W and W for 3 years.

Increase was generally slow with the WBC , but now gone from 28 a year ago to 50 WBC

Does anyone have any thoughts or experience of such an increase or am I just panicking?

Symptoms are limited apart from skin infections and a little tired which in the heat isn't unusual

for me . I guess the count can go up with infection and with no other problems I might not need

treatment yet fingers crossed.

Any advice most welcome

[Newdawn Administrator]

Hi puppy,

I’d say a bit of unnecessary panicking there. It’s much more clinically useful to plot your Absolute Lymphocyte Count (ALC) trends than your WBC and in terms of your ALC, doubling within 6 months over 30 is monitored but doesn’t always indicate the need for treatment.

Certainly isn’t sounding like anything to worry about at all particularly as you’re feeling well. You’ll find the numbers bounce around and trends are more important.

Newdawn

[puppy43 in reply to Newdawn]

Hi Newdawn,thank you for such a reassuring reply.

I didn't know about the ALC and was given the results over the phone so not much

information to go with.

i think I should try and see my Consultant here in the UK as they are pretty elusive,

but everything you say now makes sense.

such a helpful forum

many thanks and best wishes

[Poodle2 in reply to puppy43]

Hi Puppy,

Just wanted to add, if your consultant only wants to review your results over the phone, it's actually a positive as it means they really are not concerned at all. If it would help you to see them face to face then do so but I would suggest to keep a diary or a piece of a paper somewhere accessible and any time you think of a question, write it down straight away. You will get all your questions answered even over the phone from the comfort of your home if you start doing this. Any time I came across something on here which I felt would be relevant to me, I wrote it down and asked.

[puppy43 in reply to Poodle2]

Hi poodlethat's good advice to write things down and I may ask to see the consultant

face to face. Sometimes when you get to the appointment you go blank

well I do anyway so I will take someone with me I think.

Yes although I've only just got more involved in the forum it is very

helpful

Thanks again for your help

[CycleWonder]

It is disconcerting to be diagnosed with CLL and to see your numbers change. It makes your diagnosis more real. Since you are continuing to feel well overall and your numbers are still relatively low for a person with CLL (although high for you), no need to worry yet.

The number of lymphocytes can increase, decrease, and there can be changes in how fast they are changing. A big increase between two blood tests one time does not mean that will happen the next time.

I have found that how I feel seems to have little to do with how my blood is doing. I can be dancing and my blood sagging and vice versa. It’s always a surprise!