"Is it possible for the patient to have a slower growing CA such as CLL?"
Hi, if you mean some long term cyclic marrow suppression? That's not likely at all.
"I wouldn't think bloods would return to normal with something like this."
Yep, that's correct thinking - plus only the one cell line being suppressed would not be expected behavior, though it's possible since cancer can do almost anything.
I'd instead go right for the hemachromatosis gene --> iron --> neuts--> oxidative burst association. Occam's Razor would tell us to cast about in that direction.
I'd also be aware of the cyclic neutropenias. None of the known ones fit this, but the concept remains that there are neutropenias that are not understood at all. I.e., immune system mysteries, of which there are very many.
I'd also look at what triggers there might have been preceding each episode.
I'd want to know if slightly low neuts were lifelong, in which case the 'normal' count would actually be high for that individual.
I'd want to know why the Pt was blood tested in the 1st place.