WBC Fluctuation in CLL
Topic Areas:
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
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Published on February 6, 2015
Please remember the opinions expressed on Patient Power are not necessarily the views of our sponsors, contributors, partners or Patient Power. Our discussions are not a substitute for seeking medical advice or care from your own doctor. That’s how you’ll get care that’s most appropriate for you.
Question from Ed:
After listening to one of your Patient Power videos, I found your WBC (white blood cell count) explanation to highly interesting and very clear. You are an outstanding communicator!
Why can I have a WBC count of 110k one month then turn around the next month and have a WBC of 180k followed by the return to 110k? Slight changes I understand, but are 60k to 70k spikes NORMAL for CLL patients?
Answer from Dr. Leclair:
Oh my, yes, those changes are possible for CLL folks. They are especially annoying if you have allergies or a mild viral infection or recent trauma (one person I know fell off his bike, scraping his leg, and his WBC doubled). What makes this even more vexing is that the cells apparently decided how long it is going to take them to return to a lower number. In some situations, it may take a week or so. While in others, it may take months of annoyingly slow drops.
Please remember the opinions expressed on Patient Power are not necessarily the views of our sponsors, contributors, partners or Patient Power. Our discussions are not a substitute for seeking medical advice or care from your own doctor. That’s how you’ll get care that’s most appropriate for you.
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