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Low white blood cells

I have had low wbc for years anywhere between 2.8 and 3.2. Saw hematologist who wasn’t concerned and monitored it for a few months. Most recent bloodwork this week was 2.4; monocytes 17; abs neutrophils 1.2: abs leukocytes.7. Dr sending me back to hematologist for another evaluation. I’m a mess and terrified and thinking the worst though my dr said she’s not concerned about cancer so I don’t know. All other counts normal. I’m not sick nor have been and no symptoms over the years. I hope someone can help me. Thank you
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1081992 tn?1389903637
Twinny, there truly is nothing alarming here, and I wouldn't sugar coat things just to be nice.

Sure, post any other questions, but please do it in the Leukemia group where I'll be more sure to notice.

There was a patient there who also had long term low WBC (with the addition of some swollen nodes). He had every test imaginable over time, and we went back and forth over months. There never was any cancer. He just had naturally low WBC.

I hope you can take a nice nap this afternoon to de-stress :)
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1 Comments
I wanted to point out my platelets over the years are in the low part of normal range. Is that ok..
1081992 tn?1389903637
Twinny, there truly is nothing alarming here, and I wouldn't sugar coat things just to be nice.

Sure, post any other questions, but please do it in the Leukemia group where I'll be more sure to notice.

There was a patient there who also had long term low WBC (with the addition of some swollen nodes). He had every test imaginable over time, and we went back and forth over months. There never was any cancer. He just had naturally low WBC.

I hope you can take a nice nap this afternoon to de-stress :)
Helpful - 0
1081992 tn?1389903637
"What if the cancer has been in the blood marrow all these years? ...it’s been since 2009 wbc have been low."
Then there would very likely have been other signs by now.

"I guess other counts would be off?"
Yes, red blood cells and platelets, after all those years.
Or conversely, if your system were killing off WBCs, the WBCs wouldn't be so stable and balanced over so many years.

"I don’t know I’m a nervous mess!"
No reason for that :)  I'll tell you something, I've personally noticed over the years that people with unusual immune systems tend toward anxiety.

Even though your immune cell counts are low, they might be super active as a compensation.

"high monocytes... I had COVID vaccine 2 days before this lab work"
It's very reasonable to assume a connection could be there. Monocytes are involved in reaction to the virus, so that could very well be with the vaccine as well. But on the other hand, a leukemia of the monocytes would be very rare.

I would look at your upcoming visit with the hema as a chance to set your mind at ease.
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1 Comments
Thank you so much! As you can tell I’m not kidding when I say I’m a disaster and can’t function. I’m thinking this is it for me. I may post with more questions if you don’t mind. Thanks for responding. Now I hope I can calm down a bit
1081992 tn?1389903637
"Dr sending me back to hematologist for another evaluation."

I would look at that as "we have to be a little bit on guard, just as a matter of standard procedure".
Helpful - 0
1081992 tn?1389903637
Hi, there's no reason to suspect a cancer. Some people just have naturally low-ish WBCs. Are you very thin and lean?

When blood cells go low from a cancer, it's because the cancer has invaded the bone marrow, which is where the blood cells are made. That's not you. Especially since you've been okay for years, which is very important. But if this were a sudden new development, it would be more worrisome.

Also, since you don't get frequent colds or other infections, your immune system seems to be doing its job quite well even though the WBC is technically low. People with a genetically caused malady of low immune cells tend to get sick a LOT.

If you think of a "bell curve", somebody has to be on the left and still be normal.

Having a low WBC tends to say you have low general inflammation, and that should be good in that you are less inclined to diseases of chronic inflammation such as heart disease. So that's the plus side :)
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1 Comments
Finally an answer! Thank you so much! I am the exact opposite of thin and considered obese. What if the cancer has been in the blood marrow all these years? I guess other counts would be off? I don’t know I’m a nervous mess! I was looking at past labs and it’s been since 2009 wbc have been low. 2.4 is the lowest they’ve been and I’ve never had the high monocytes reading before. I had COVID vaccine 2 days before this lab work. Any correlation? Thanks so much!
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