Rising white cells

[Ellim]

Now that my White Cell Count is rising (34.6) 12/4/2023 what should happen to my Red cell count.

I have been diagnosed since 2017. My GP is going to speak to the my Haematologist for advice.

[kitchengardener2]

Hi, my white cells went up to 250 before treatment and although I can't remember the actual number, my reds dropped, which was a pointer for anemia. Dr Munro can never understand why I am not overtired although she is convinced that if I hadn't started treatment when I did, she she thinks I would have started feeling poorly. Take care, Alice

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator]

There isn't necessarily a correlation between your white cell count and your red cell count. You first need to determine what has caused your white cell count to rise; while it is most likely a due to an increase in your CLL cells causing a rise in your lymphocyte count, it could be due to a rise in your neutrophil count.

It's when your CLL cells significantly infiltrate your bone marrow that your red cell count can fall. That can result in a fall in your haemoglobin making you anaemic.

Neil

[JigFettler Volunteer]

Nothing may happen to your red cell count - as AussieNeil suggests. Unless CLL cells move in and occupy the bone marrow. There are many end points to watch and wait. CLL is a heterogenous disease. Your white cell count at 34600 does not sound very high, but if all the CLL cells are in the marrow then the red cell count may drop, eventually.

AussieNeil also suggests there are other causes for a rise in white cell numbers, and that is what your Drs need to clarify.

My red cell count was stable as my white cell count rose to my maximum of 80,000 (UK units) BUT once I was treated my red cell count rose to a more health level - begs the question why their numbers were suppressed. I will nevel know. My treatment was started due to lymph node size, oh and my spleen grew too!

Its complicated. Haematologists are clever and know how to navigate through!

Jig

[scryer99]

Your ALC is an indicator of how active your CLL is. The more CLL cells in your marrow, the more malformed white blood cells get created and accumulate.

Your bone marrow also makes other blood components, including your red blood cells. So whether that is impacted or not depends on where your CLL cells are "crowding out" normal bone marrow function.

You might have platelets impacted, or might not. You might have red blood cells impacted, or might not. You also might have red blood cells being created but not consistently or well. All depends on your individual CLL development and what proportions of other bone marrow cells are being affected.

My ALC maxed out at around 150 pre-treatment and 300 at two points during initial treatment start. My red blood cell count has been a little low, and my platelets were fairly low, but rebounded around when the ALC maxed out. And my red blood cells, despite the counts being not-terrible, aren't working great, with significant size variation and high fragility. As a result, my blood tests pretty regularly show potassium in the 8 or 9 range due to blood breakdown in the sample, resulting in lots of scurrying about by less leukemia-experienced medical personnel but no actual heart attacks or death. This was all with bone marrow "takeover" by CLL cells of about 85%.

So, short answer: your mileage may vary. Keep an eye on it, take prophylactic measures to build your health (exercise and B12 supplements can help), and live your life.

[Oleboyredw-uk]

As already stated by AussieNeil there isn't a direct correlation. I can't add much. However, I checked my blood stats since 2012 and at peaks my ALC went above 60 (UK so 60,000 for others), and Reds never went out of normal range.

Best to all, robin

[Big_Dee]

Hello Ellim

Depends on the person and ALC amount. I don't recall exactly when my RBC dropped lower than normal range, although I could research it. Bottom line was when I started having shortness of breath when walking up slight incline. My WBC was about 150+ at that time. Blessings.

[skipro]

hi

I’m relapse and started my second treatments in 5 years and was diagnosed 12 years ago.

Over time, the lymphocytes, one of the wbc cell lines increase, fluctuate and over time the trend is up.

before FCR treat in 2018, my wbc was 227,000 which put my concerns of passing the 30,000 mark into perspective.

My red blood cells were normal, but platelets low and spleen large and painful.

This time around my red blood cells were dropping when my wbc was around 80,000 and got pretty low by the time wbc was 195,000.

Bottom line is everyone is different and that’s one of the hard things is looking and trends in our labs that don’t seem to match the “normal progression” of CLL.

So just know it can be a roller coaster and every is different

God bless

Skipro