Low WBC, Low Platelets, Low RBC, Large cells - is it always Lukemia

My wife was diagnosed with aplastic anemia about one year ago. She has platelet count below 50, both red and while blood counts typically low (partly caused by medicine)l but fluctuate from blood draw to blood draw. Your bone marrow test should tell you more.

Thanks for the reply. Although I know the definitive answer will be the results of the bone marrow biopsy, I am so very upset waiting for two weeks. I'm 61 years old and in good health. If diagnosed as Leukemia, is it an automatic 5 year death sentence?

Hi @asarnesejr Welcome to Connect. It really challenges the ol’ stress meter when we get our blood work and tests weeks before a consultation with our doctors to find out what the results mean! Been there myself.

There can be a number of reasons for wonky blood numbers including medications, illnesses, or blood/bone marrow conditions or diseases. There’s no reason to jump immediatly to leukemia. On that note, to answer your question, having leukemia is not an automatic 5 year death sentence. I had a very aggressive form of leukemia 6 years ago, went through the treatments and here I am at 71, super healthy and not pushing up daisies from the underside. ☺️

The bone marrow biopsy will give your doctor a clearer picture of the health of your bone marrow and its ability to produce healthy blood products; The marrow being the heart of the blood manufacturing site in the body. It can take a week or so for all of the analytical assessments to be returned to your doctor. Feels like forever, I know!

So, this is a good time for distraction and to focus on your daily life and moments that bring you joy or that reduce stress such as art, walking, reading, exercise, etc.. Also, if I may suggest, try to avoid surfing through Dr Google’s information…while there are useful articles, some of them may lead you to areas that have no relevance to you and fill you with stress for nothing.

I hope you’ll let me know what you find out after your consult. Were you having any symptoms that led up to your having blood work and the biopsy? Or was this just at a routine physical?

Thank you for your input. I hadn't had any symptoms at all and am not on any medications. I just turned 61 and retired last January along with my wife. Plans had included watching our first grandchild during the daytimes while our daughter worked. Now the Doctor is telling me to stay away from crowds and our grandchild once our daughter returns to work (she's a school teacher).

I still do not have any symptoms, except for extreme exhaustion from all the stress and crying.

It was a routine physical, my last bloodwork was back in 2018 and the only indication I could see was that my platelet count was at the minimum at 100. Then with Covid, and 3 years of chronic stress dealing with my dad's dementia, I thought I would take care of myself once I retired. I started exercising, 1-hour a day on the treadmill, push-ups, dropped 20lbs, down to 188 at 6'. To be honest, feeling the best I've felt in a very long time.

If Leukemia, the Doctor told me between 5-10 years left.

Please do not put the cart before the horse…I know first hand it is hard not to do. Even if your diagnosis is Leukemia the advances in treatment are far and away better than they were a few years ago. Heck even a few months ago!
I have AML. Although I was a candidate for a bone marrow transplant (May 2024) I elected not to do it. I am happy to report that in this July my MRD (minimal residual disease) blood test showed no signs of my mutations. My doctor calls it DEEP REMISSION. I will continue on maintenance treatments and continue with blood draws as my numbers continue to be below the normal range. When I asked my Doctor his goal for me he said “that you die of old age”! I get tired but then I am 77 and would certainly be tired whether I had AML or not. I am grateful every day and thank God because prayers were and continue to be answered in my case. I wish you all the best as you learn the outcome of your biopsy!

OMG, I just cried reading your encouraging words. If i read correctly, from Dr Google, AML is the most aggressive form of Leukemia and the most difficult to treat. May I ask why you chose not to do the bone marrow transplant?

Also, how long and how difficult was chemo for you?

Oh my goodness, @asarnesejr, The rug has been pulled right out from under you. But I hope I can help you find your footing again.
You’re young at 61 and in excellent health otherwise. That will work very well in your favor if the tests results do show any signs of leukemia. Paying attention to your health, continuing to exercise and focus on enjoying your new little grandchild will help you get through the possibly challenging moments ahead.

Honestly, I’m really surprised your doctor said you’d only have 5-10 years ahead of you. That’s not fair and very premature. You don’t even have a diagnosis yet. There have been so many advancements recently in the field of blood cancers. With treatment there are wonderful success stories where people go on to live healthy, full lives.

At 65, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of AML with a very poor prognosis. Up to 3 weeks before diagnosis, I’d been at what I felt was the peak of health! So I know what it’s like to have that rug pulled out from under me…and my husband! To say it was a shock is an understatement. But I wasn’t ready to check out! So I went through the treatments, which also required a bone marrow transplant. That gave me a second chance at life! I’m now 71 and expected to have a normal life span! Truly, I feel as though none of this ever happened.

I’m sorry that this is all happening at such a pivotal time in your life with being newly retired, having a new grand baby and plans in the works. And if I may suggest, please step away from searching online for ‘what this could be’…because this is filling you with unfounded dread. It’s time wasted.
Let’s wait to see what your test results say and then we’ll work through this together, ok?

I do understand that I need to try to be as normal as possible until my diagnosis on 8/11, or I'll be weakened before starting any treatment. The doctor said it could be Leukemia but needs the bone marrow results to make a diagnosis. I asked if that was cancer, he said yes. I replied so I have 5 years to live, he replied 5-10 years.

If I may ask, why is the internet filled with such low percentages of living 5 more years after being diagnosed?

Leukemia encompasses so many types and variables. Each can have their own treatments and outcomes. And then there are the considerations of individual patient factors like age, overall health, co-morbidities, genetic markers…all of these can influence survival outcomes. The 5 year averages don’t encompass all possible outcomes for leukemia patients and they often don’t factor in patients receiving treatment.

Honestly, I know how scary and overwhelming the thoughts of having leukemia can be. At this point, you don’t even have a diagnosis yet, which allows your thoughts to explode with all the worse case possibilities! Leukemia and blood conditions is such a broad area. That’s why I’m encouraging you to not go surfing and looking for answers for questions without specific focus.

I’d like to share my favorite quote by an unknown author. It resonated with me early on:
“Fear does not stop death. It stops life
And worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles.
It takes away today’s peace.”

So please, try to focus on your new grand baby, art, exercising, reading, nature walks…let yourself focus on life right now. Not on something you don’t know.
Does that make sense?

It does, I suffer from GAC and take Lorazepam to control it, which isn't helping me cope with it all right now. My WBC did go from 1.2 to 1.5 in a week with the B12 injections, don't know if that even means anything cause my platelet count went down from 75 to 73. Was kindof hoping that the low B12 situation was the cause of all of this.