hi everybody
ive had cml 4 years now and responding well to gliveec but i went to the hospital on tuesday for my 8 week check up and they told me my white count had gone down to 2.2 is this anything to worry about ? they have put me on a course of antibotics and hopefully it works as im going to cuba on monday! consultant said to keep away from anybody who is ill
clare
Hi Clare,
I don't know what your counts were previously, but I had a check up yesterday and my WBC was 3.7 & Platelets 128. I thought I would let you know because Glivec has always kept my counts low. Sometimes the WBC goes up a bit, 6 weeks ago it was 7.2 We all seem to respond differently. I assume your doctor said the 2.2 is ok and on the low end of normal. Like you I have had CML for over 4 years. I am on 600 mg, but I still had low counts on 400 mg.
Best Wishes,
Phil.
Clare, There is a very helpful section on FAQ's part of website related to Blood Counts. A relevant section is the section that reads
"The overall White Blood Cell (WBC) count is important to monitor as a significant elevation in WBC may indicate infection, lack of response to treatment, or worsening of leukemia. Conversely, some treatments for leukemia suppress the WBC and it is important to make sure the WBC does not dip below a critical range. The normal range for WBC is generally from 4.0 to 11.0 k/ul.
Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell involved in fighting infection. It is important they remain at adequate levels. As with platelets, neutrophil levels may become depressed in patients on myelosuppressive therapy such as imatinib mesylate (also called IM, Gleevec or Glivec). The normal range of the percentage of neutrophils is between 45% and 70%.
More important than the percentage of neutrophils is the absolute neutrophil count (ANC), which should fall between 1.0 to 8.0 k/ul."
My WBC has hovered around 2.8 to 3 since I started Gleevec last April so as Phil says, your WBC feels to be at low end of normal for someone on Gleevec.
Andy
It is with some agreement amongst clinicians that if your white count does not fall below 1.50 that you are quite OK. maybe in that case it would be best to stay out of crowded places but 2.2 is more or less OK and as others have said is the low end of normal when taking Glivec. For bacterial infection you do need a healthy supply of neutrophils so have a look at the differential of the white cells..ie. the % of lymphocytes to neutrophils.
don't worry unecessarily but do ask you doctor to explain why he might worry if you travel.
Your count may well have recovered before you travel as counts can dip and peak between blood tests.
Sandy
the doctors have never mentioned my white count before so i would have asumed it was normal!!! they havent ask me to go back before i travel on mon so hopefully i will be fine !!
app on the website ive just been on.Its says that your normal count is between 4.0 and 11.1 and it might have dropped cause you have an infection ,your not responding to your drug and your luekeamia is worsening .
What do u think ? not sure what to feel now!!!!
Hi Clare,
please do not worry.... the range for normal white cell count is 4 -11 but you must remember that that is for the general population who do not have CML and who do not need to take Glivec.
Glivec supresses the cell counts... especially the white one because it is in that cell line that the CML cells are. So if your level is on the lowish side 1.5- 3.5 then it is more likely to be because Glivec is doing its job.
My white cell counts were always around 2.5 for the 4 years i was taking Glivec. My doctor certainly preferred it that way.
From what you say your doctor is just being cautious by giving you antibiotic cover... and that is only because you are traveling. Please do not worry and enjoy your holiday.
best wishes,
Sandy
