Decreasing White Blood Cell Count
I'm back on watch and wait and the impending need for treatment has been pushed back for the meantime!
In my last blood test, only a month ago, my WBC was up to 165,000 (Lymphocytes 160,000) and my specialist had signaled the potential need to start treatment to reduce the CLL in my system. He was also testing for TP53 and IGHV mutation status - both of which have significant and serious implications on overall prognosis.
Today, the results are in and they're all good news:
My WBC has decreased to 121,000 (LC 115,000)
I don't have the TP53 mutation at this stage in my journey. This was worth 4 points in the risk assessment so a major relief for us all.
Still waiting on IGHV mutation status - but this marker has more impact on effectiveness of treatment and the length of remission times between treatments than the actual disease progression.
My platelets and hemoglobin levels are marginally below normal but nothing to worry about at this stage.
My FISH test shows I have a deletion of chromosome band 13q14 which is a positive prognostic marker.
Given all of that and that I only have a few minor raised lymph nodes, am not experiencing regular and debilitating infections, my energy levels are pretty consistent with any mother of three young boys, and have no other health issues, my Specialist feels we can push back the discussion of treatment and resume active monitoring! That means blood tests every three months and another appointment in 6 months time. Yippee!
Many people, including myself have wondered, what causes the reduction of WBC in my blood? I've tried googling this phenomena, without much luck of finding clinical information on WBC fluctuations with CLL, but I also posted a few social media queries on CLL sites and it seems, for some of us, this is an experienced occurrence. My Specialist said simply "it's not surprising behaviour." I don't know if I'll get more of an explanation than that - but I'm grateful to God that it has reduced, and am thankful for the prayer, love and support I've received over the last few months, as well as an incredible time with family and friends canoeing the Whanganui river last week. Courage, love and living for legacy may not be curative supplements, but they definitely help with overall outlook and spirit.
Now that I've got a bit of time to breathe, I'm planning on using this time wisely - to focus on my overall physical health so that if/when the time comes for treatment, I'm in the best place possible to endure it. Although watch and wait feels counter-intuitive when you have a cancer roaming around your system, with CLL, time to first treatment is a gift, which I am thankful for.