4 replies to this topic

[Marnie]

Just got my 6-month CBC results and my white count is low.  Will be meeting with a new onc soon (looking forward to getting the PCR results), but wondering if a low white count is normal, or something I need to be concerned about.

Marnie

[PhilB]

How low is low?

Most of us have our WBC dip down into the 2s and 3s early on and will tend to end up long term somewhere around or below the low end of normal as a result of the drugs.  This is absolutely fine.  Some of us do get problems with very low counts, but there are things that can be done in that case.

If your WBC is particularly low then the key number people tend to watch is the ANC - absolute neutrophil count - and as long as this is above 1 the doctors' are usually fairly laid back. If it drops below that they will keep a closer eye on you and consider intervention if it gets really low.

Best wishes for a good PCR

Phil

[MomMom]

Marnie, PhilB is exactly right.  I am at my 1.5 year dx and that is what happened to me.  Your doc will watch your numbers and mine are now holding at just a smidgen under low normal, and have been for about 9 or ten mos.  In fact, the last two visits for blood work, there was little or no change in any of my counts. So hang in there.  I think we begin to expect that broad variation in blood counts and I know when mine stabilized it took a while to accept that I was doing okay.

MomMom

[Trey]

Marnie,

You have entered the phase where the leukemic cells have died off fast but the good WBC stem cells aren't yet catching up.  This could last for quite a while.  But your body can generally respond well to viruses and such if needed assuming the ANC count described above stays over 1.0.

[Marnie]

Thanks, all.  My ANC is at 2.1, so I'm too concerned.  Thus far, I've made it half-way through a year of school filled with germy middle-school students without getting sick.  I guess the white blood cells are still doing their job.

Marnie