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Posted 12/13/2010 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Just had a complete blood count (CBC) done, mostly for cholesterol checking.

My WBC (white blood cell) count has been low for some time, but took another dip down over the past 6 months to 2.8 k/mm3, the lowest it has been ever. The normal range is 4.0 to 11.0 k/mm3.
At the same time, for the first time, one of my "phils" came in below range. My neutrophil count slipped to 1.5, and the normal range is 1.6 to 9.3.

I have not had any illnesses lately and feel fine. I doubt that I'm fighting something off constantly, causing the WBC to be down.

My primary care doctor is starting to be concerned. Before I hit this low, all the other counts were fine. I asked him what could cause my low WBC, and he said, "Well, you did have radiation." I pointed out that the radiation was now nearly 4 years in the past, and that no large bones were in the targeted area. He understood this counterpoint but we didn't discuss causes further than that.

He said that I wasn't apparently suffering from the low WBC, since I haven't had trouble with wounds healing, or illnesses that I couldn't shake. In other words, the white cells I do have seem to be taking care of me for the present.

But he said that if the WBC drifted down any further, he would be sending me to the hematologist/oncologist.

I'm getting worried.

Comments?
Posted 12/13/2010 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
On any medications? A number of them cause a low white blood cell count.
Posted 12/13/2010 9:05 PM (GMT 0)
Nothing that I've seen on lists that can drive wbc down. Just Hytrin (for blood pressure) and Pravachol (cholesterol). The WBC had been down nearly to this level in the past before I had ever taken Pravachol.
I don't take any supplements or use anything recreationally other than a moderate amount of alcohol.
Posted 12/13/2010 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Galileo,

I got my bloodwork a few weeks ago and the only thing out of the ordinary was my WBC. All my doctors told me that it wasn't anything to worry about. They looked at various other counts and saw they were fine and moved on. I don't have my numbers handy, but I thougth it was around 3.

Jerry L.
Posted 12/14/2010 5:54 AM (GMT 0)
Neutrophils fight against bacterial infection. Normally they are about 60% of your white blood cells. Some people just run on the low side, which is better than the high side. You doc knows your complete medical history so I'd go with his advice. If he has your see a hematologist they may do some further investigation about the cause. In the meantime, don't worry.
Posted 12/14/2010 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
I just had my annual physical yesterday, and the only lab result that was outta whack was my WBC, at 3.3. My doc said it was nothing to worry about, and that there could be a variety of reasons, including some viral thing going on. It *is* the cold and flu season around here.
Posted 12/14/2010 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Galileo,

I am now six months out from radiation, and both my red and white cell counts are far below the minimums. They were dead-center normal after surgery, before radiation.

My GP says it could be years before they come back to normal on their own, so I am avoiding anyone with so much as a sniffle, much less a fever. He is still holding off on any specific treatment, so that we can see what the natual progress is. Next general blood work will be in March. 

Posted 12/14/2010 7:15 PM (GMT 0)
thanks to all for responding.

I took a look back at copies of CBC reports I have at home, and my WBC started drifting below the normal range even before I was diagnosed or treated. And it has risen to nearly normal levels (3.9) after radiation. It bounces around, but overall is lower than it was in 2000 (4.87) and has never risen to normal levels. In 2008 it bounced way low, down to 2.2, and then recovered somewhat. My neutrophils, it turns out, are sometimes low and sometimes not, but recently they have been more low than not.
Posted 9/29/2018 4:11 AM (GMT 0)
Galileo: I found this thread on low WBC and see that you are still active at HW. Just wondering if anything more came of your low WBC and Neutrophils. Note my post a few days ago concerning my low WBC.

Thanks
Roger
Posted 9/30/2018 7:53 PM (GMT 0)
My overall wbc count has been low for years, in the 3.8 range, except for high eosinophils which I attribute to chronic gastritis/esophagitis (inflammation raises eosinophils). Nobody ever seems concerned with this. I also have low rbc count which wasn’t from iron (tested) and it did come up a little after we doubled my T level through TRT. I’ll be honest with you I think I may have a bone marrow disorder but I’m not investigating it until numbers drop more, I don’t want to look for trouble, trouble will just find me anyway...
Posted 9/30/2018 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
I doubt this will apply to a WBC that has been driven down as an unwanted SE of some medical treatment, but low WBC in general is considered by some to be highly associated with lower all cause mortality. I think for about the same reasons that a lower CRP is better. I'm sure there is a # that is low enough to be dangerous, but it is pretty low. But of course, if it is low because some treatment has damaged something, that is probably a different story.
Posted 10/1/2018 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
I 've been concerned about a low wbc (3.1) as well as a low rbc(4.15) since radiation treatments. My gp brought this to my attention. When I saw my oncologist he said not a problem. "When I think it is too low, I will let you know" Right now, you are fine.
Posted 10/1/2018 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
an 8year old thread....and yes Galileo does pop up here and then...
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