Family Member Has Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Posted: 11-15-07 01:34am
My husband and I have just found out about
his mother being diagnosed with CLL. I
have read all of the information I can
find on the net about this, but would like
to hear from someone with personal
experience. How long can her numbers stay
stable before they start to rise? Will she
have to have chemotherapy before they
rise? Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks
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MandMs
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Posted: 11-15-07 05:59am
This type of leukemia can be unpredictable
and can behave aggressively in some
people.
What are her last white blood cells
counts?
What kind of symptoms she has?
Has she been tested to see how much the
cancer has spread (staging the disease)?
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sadie1
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Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 47 Location: ,
Cll Posted: 11-15-07 14:12pm
Her white blood cell count was (29000) I
believe that is what she said... Not sure
though. I don't think it is in her
lymphnodes yet. But we are not sure. She
has not told us the stage yet. She is
tired alot. She has lot alittle weight.
She don't tell us everything so I don't
know how far advanced it is. Thanks for
your help.
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MandMs
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Posted: 11-20-07 02:38am
The abnormal lymphocytes multiply slowly,
but in a poorly regulated manner. They
live much longer and thus their numbers
build up in the body.
A WBC over 30,000 always indicates massive
infection or a serious disease such as
leukemia.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) often
has no symptoms at first and may remain
undetected for a long time.
The treatment depends on the specific type
of chronic leukemia and its stage.
Chemotherapy is generally the treatment of
choice.
Is she experiences shortness of breath?
Does she suffers from frequent
infections?
Is she bleeding and bruising easily?
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sadie1
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 47 Location: ,
Posted: 11-20-07 14:30pm
Some days she does experience shortness of
breath. The only infections that I know
about are sinus infections. She had to
have sinus surgery 2 weeks ago. They sent
it off to be tested and we haven't
received the results on that yet. I'm not
sure about the bleeding but I know that
she bruises easily. When she first got
the news about the CLL her count was
29000. After she had her surgery and was
on an antibiotic the blood work showed the
WBC to be 23000. I am beginngin to wonder
if the sinus infection had something to do
with the WBC being so high. They have not
done a bone marrow aspiration on her yet.
How do they know for sure that they are
dealing with CLL. Again, Thank you for
all of your help.
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MandMs
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Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 2277 Location: Strumica, Macedonia
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Posted: 11-22-07 07:04am
People with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
are at increased risk of developing
certain infections or a secondary cancer.
From the symptoms and signs she has, seems
like she is in advanced phases of leukemia
(shortness of breath is caused by shortage
of red blood cells; frequent
infections-sinus infection are often
because the white blood cells aren't
functioning properly; easy bleeding and
bruising, including frequent or severe
nosebleeds, bleeding from the gums, or
tiny red marks caused by bleeding into the
skin are due to a shortage of blood
platelets)
Does she feel bone and joint pain?
Is she having swelling of the liver and
spleen, and enlargement of the lymph nodes
in the neck, underarm, stomach or groin?
Doctor typically examines blood or bone
marrow samples under a microscope and
classifies blood cells into specific types
based on their size, shape and other
features. This helps establish the type
and subtype of leukemia.
