Member
Posted 05 July 2011 - 05:38 PM
Hi All,
I just got back from an appt. with my onc. Numbers are all in normal range with plts being the only low number at 124. My onc. did an exam to check for spleen size and says the he can still feel it when I take a deep inspiration. BCR-ABL was at 22% a few months ago so it seems like things are under control. Is the size of the spleen cause for concern? Thanks for your thoughts! -Josh
Advanced Member
Posted 05 July 2011 - 08:16 PM
The spleen is not like a rubber band. It will slowly recede. By itself it is a lagging indicator. Take some deep inspirations and relax.
Member
Posted 06 July 2011 - 02:41 PM
Thanks, Trey. Over the past month my WBC has gone from 3.7 to 5.3. Would this cause the spleen to enlarge? How high would your WBC have to get before your spleen would start getting bigger again? I am just hoping my CML isn't sending out it's reserve mutants....
Advanced Member
Posted 06 July 2011 - 03:47 PM
I had similar concerns when my WBC dropped at the beginning and then slowly started going back up a little. I wouldn't worry about it. 5.3 is well in normal range. We're lucky, we're not myelosuppressed. Having a strong WBC while on TKI is a good thing. It's nerve racking, but give it time. Spleen will settle down and WBC will hopefully stay strong.
Advanced Member
Posted 06 July 2011 - 04:51 PM
Your spleen would not become enlarged again due to high WBC unless the WBC went over roughly 25K. But platelets can be a different issue. The spleen hoards platelets until needed, so even with normal platelet levels the spleen may be "over-hoarding". The spleen remains a little confused for a while after the abuse it has endured. I call it "pissed off spleen syndrome".
Member
Posted 07 July 2011 - 02:35 PM
Thanks for the replys, Trey and Lucky. I am curious though... I am about 5 months into treatment and my plts are not yet normal nor is my spleen size. My plts are normal enough as far as I am concerned. My onc. said he really wasn't concerned about the spleen, but said that the only reason he didn't like it was that it was part of my hematologic response, which states that the spleen should return to a normal size. My onc. said my spleen may never go back to normal and said that I may have some fibrosis going on since it was so big at dx. My WBC was 280,000 and my spleen was extended far beyond the ribs. Trey I read a different post about plts that you had commeneted on and you said that things like this usually resolve within 6 months. Will my plts ever come back up at this point or is my spleen going to keep holding them hostage?
Member
Posted 07 July 2011 - 04:24 PM
Also, Trey, I know you can't see the future....You are just one of my go to ppl because you are up on your research and you help me stay up on mine! I bet if you did have a crystal ball, my spleen size and plt count wouldn't exactly be what you would be gazing at!
Advanced Member
Posted 07 July 2011 - 08:15 PM
The body heals most things over time if the leukemia is controlled. Some things heal more slowly than others, and for some people it takes longer than for others. The spleen will take care of itself.
If your spleen was only "far beyond the ribs" it wasn't as bad as some who had the tip go below the belly button.
New Member
Posted 10 July 2011 - 06:52 AM
Hi Josh,
When I was diagnosed with CML the size of my spleen was the defining syptom. It had grown to the size of a large aubergine and extend down to the lower right quadrant of my abdomen, some 3-4" below my bellybutton. It took about 9months for it to return to its normal size but now its just fine. Mind you, my WBC was not even in the same league as yours but my platelets were pretty high at 1500 or thereabouts. I'm sure with a little bit of patience yours will go back to normal too.
All the best
Rob
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