White blood count and leukemia?

Question

I have a constantly high white blood count and was sent to a hematologist who did a smear and found my bloodwork to be cancer free. Is a smear 100% accurate in determining that there is no leukemia? Also, if antibiotic beings the white blood count down, does that rule out leukemia or can it act as a bacterial infection? (Assuming the WBC goes back up once off the antibiotic) And, if the WBC is about 14,000 for a few months and then down to 11,200, and then back up to 12, and then down to 11 for awhile, is this common behavior for leukemia to act? My doctor wants me to go back to the hematologist to have a bone marrow biopsy done but not until I have my baby in April, and I just need some answers till then.

I feel a little better hearing the 1st response, but I am 15 weeks pregnant and this has been going on since June 2005...my doctor is wonderful, but he has no other explanation for the hig WBC and low lymphocytes...by the way, how bad is the bone marrow biopsy?

Answer 1

I agree with the first answerer in that the white count would continue to get higher and higher if it was leukemia. When you look at a smear under the microscope the cells look different that normal white blood cells. White counts can be elevated for a number of reasons. You have already alluded to infection as one of the causes, but white counts can be elevated due to inflammation. Smoking can even cause it to rise (hopefully you are not smoking if you are pregnant.) If the hematologist felt this was an urgent issue, a bone marrow biopsy would have been performed already. It is a relatively easy procedure. Some doctors will give you meds to make you sleepy, others will not. Please see the following link to see how the procedure is done.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bone-marrow-biopsy/CA00068

Answer 2

It is extremely easy to determine leukemia from a simple blood test, so you can stop worrying about that.

Leukemia doesn't fluctuate like that, it just gets steadily worse.

The doctor isn't so worry or he would have you have the bone marrow biospy done now. It is not invasive for the baby (I've had two done in the last 10 years).

Sometimes there are other things going on and it could be that the baby is what is causing the blood count to move around.

Just relax and enjoy your pregnancy and prepare for the arrival of the little one. All will be fine.

I have a high protein level in my blood which, after millions of tests they can't determine what it is but know it isn't doing me any harm.

Answer 3

my daughter was diagnosed with leukeamia last year, she had a very low haemoglobin level, no neutophils (bacterial fighting white cell) and very low platelets. high white cells (due to increase in immature cells). She was pale as a ghost and covered in bruises. They also found the cancer cells in her blood test. We were told it maybe leukaemia and they had to do a bone marrow biopsy to be sure. They stick a needle usually into your back near your hip and draw out the cells. My daughter was asleep and has had about 5 of them, she is only 7 and has said they dont hurt too bad. If you have no cancer cells in your blood, maybe you shouldnt worry too much about it for now till after your baby. I have added a website I used when my daughter was diagnosed. Good luck with it all

Answer 4

I agree with the nurse practitioner above me. She sounds very knowledgable and not one of the kukes you get on the internet who have no clue what they are talking about.
RN x 12 yrs in Oncology/Hematology floor.

Answer 5

Please check this site for good info:
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls
Best wishes to you!