Low WBC, Low Platelets, Low RBC, Large cells - is it always Leukemia?

Posted by asarnesejr @asarnesejr, Aug 1 9:28am

I recently went for routine bloodwork after 5-years and my CBC showed that my WBC is 1.5, RBC is 3.84, Platelet count is 74, Hemoglobin is 13.9 and the Neutrophils are at .7

I had a bone marrow test done yesterday 07/31.

Do the above numbers realistically seem like Lukemia?

Your help is apprciated

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Blood Cancers & Disorders Support Group.

asarnesejr | @asarnesejr | Aug 6 3:01pm

I talked to my Hematologist today instead of Aug 11th. He has diagnosed me with Low Grade MDS.

WBC 1.5, Platelets 75, Neutrophil .7

No blasts in blood, 2% blasts in bone marrow.

His plan is to not to do anything until it goes from Low Grade to Intermediate Grade or
AML.

Is this the best approach? Is there anything available to raise my numbers or to keep this disease from progressing? Please, I am very upset and confused.

coloradored | @coloradored | Aug 6 3:21pm

In reply to @drawlings0803 "You are a perfect example of the power of positivity. When I was first diagnosed with..." + (show)

Best wishes for your stem cell transplant! My stem cell "birthday" was Feb 3rd & I am consistently regaining my strength.

asarnesejr | @asarnesejr | Aug 6 3:39pm

In reply to @coloradored "Best wishes for your stem cell transplant! My stem cell "birthday" was Feb 3rd & I..." + (show)

may I ask your age and how bad was the entire stem cell procedure?

drawlings0803 | @drawlings0803 | Aug 6 5:35pm

In reply to @asarnesejr "I talked to my Hematologist today instead of Aug 11th. He has diagnosed me with Low..." + (show)

This is good news! I know the ‘wait & see’ approach can be scary. But your MDS may remain low grade. If it progresses (that’s ‘if’) then there are treatments available. I’m intermediate MDS B2. Because of that, I will need a stem cell transplant after 4 rounds of Dacogen.
Take care of yourself & try to manage your anxiety. There is nothing we can magically do to change our blood numbers. But I believe in the mind-body connection. Our bodies respond better when our minds are at peace. Try & relax. Did your Dr say how often your blood will be monitored? Take comfort in knowing you will be monitored & thats all you need right now.

asarnesejr | @asarnesejr | Aug 7 6:35am

In reply to @drawlings0803 "This is good news! I know the ‘wait & see’ approach can be scary. But your..." + (show)

I'm just trying to grasp all of it right now. I was up most of the night unable to sleep.

Does anyone know of anyone or any statistics of someone in my condition (see above) that has not progressed? Meaning went on for years with low grade MDS with the following numbers:

WBC 1.5, Platelets 75, Neutrophil .7
No blasts in blood, 2% blasts in bone marrow.

without it progressing, and able to live a somewhat normal life?

I'm really scared.

janetlen | @janetlen | Aug 7 8:26am

In reply to @asarnesejr "I talked to my Hematologist today instead of Aug 11th. He has diagnosed me with Low..." + (show)

@asarnesejr I wish I could put my arm around you and try to get you to relax. I have followed all of your posts and am glad you spoke to your Hematologist and received your diagnosis. Now your journey begins, all is not lost. I am unfamiliar with the term "low grade." Typically the Dr's refer to us as low, intermediate, or high risk. There are different types of MDS. I have del 5q. I started out as low risk. Your results from your initial post showed low RBC. Your hemoglobin and RBC counts are very important. When they drop to a certain point your Dr will start you on treatment. At some point, you will probably talk to a transplant Dr. depending on your age. At this point take some time to wrap your head around all of this. I recommend you go to mds-foundation.org and read the information on mds. There is also an ipss-r or IPSS-M calculator there which you can use to calculate your risk category. Simply input your bloodwork results, any genetic or molecular changes, and blast percentage. Congratulations on the low blast count, that is very good news!

janetlen | @janetlen | Aug 7 8:31am

In reply to @asarnesejr "I'm just trying to grasp all of it right now. I was up most of the..." + (show)

You may also want to change to an MDS Center of Excellence. You can find listings on mds-foundation.org. There is also a patient board where other people with MDS post info. The board is not as active as Mayo's but it is helpful to learn from others with the same disease.

asarnesejr | @asarnesejr | Aug 7 9:11am

In reply to @janetlen "@asarnesejr I wish I could put my arm around you and try to get you to..." + (show)

How long did you remain low risk MDS before it progressed?

Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Aug 7 9:13am

In reply to @coloradored "Best wishes for your stem cell transplant! My stem cell "birthday" was Feb 3rd & I..." + (show)

Hi @coloradored! A belated congratulations on your stem cell transplant for T-Cell Lymphoma! It can take a little while to gain your strength and get back to normal. I know that both autologous or allogeneic transplants can be used for your condition, depending on the diagnosis…so, which did you have? Were you able to use your own cells or did you have a donor?

janetlen | @janetlen | Aug 7 9:44am

In reply to @asarnesejr "How long did you remain low risk MDS before it progressed?" + (show)

Two years. The factors in my MDS are probably very different than yours, so do not base your MDS on mine. You could well be one of those people who respond well to treatment and live 10 or more years. How old are you? Did you run the IPSS-R calculator yet? When you do, it will show you a life expectancy, but remember many people live beyond the life expectancy. I am back on the transplant track once I get approvals.

View More View Less

Please sign in or register to post a reply.