Resolved question:
Hello Dr. Eswaran,
I really appreciate your answer telling me that .6 is enough lymphocytes to fight NEW cancers. But, I just don't see how that can be. It is so far below normal that I just feel that some cancer cells might get skipped. Can you tell me WHY .6 lymphocytes is enough to fight NEW cancers? Please remember that chemo was finished 9 months ago, and radiation was finished 6 months ago--so I have had this for a long time. Thank you so much.
Submitted:
4 Days
Category:
Oncologist
Thank you for your query.
It is a complex mechanism of our immune cells acting on the tumor cells. Can you repeat a blood test and get back to me at the earliest. I hope you are doing good amount of exercise and taking good hygenic and healthy nutritious diet.
Please get back to me with the latest reports
I am not supposed to repeat my blood test until September. The doctor doesn't believe in it. I really just want to know WHY you think .6 lymphocytes is enough to fight off NEW cancers. It was very encouraging to hear that you thought .6 was enough--but just a tiny explanation of "WHY" would make me feel so much better. Is it just that we have more than we need and .6 is more than enough???? For your information, results of my 20/4//15 blood test are: WBC 2.7 RBC 4.28 Hemoglobin 14.2 Hematocrit 43.5 MCV 101.6 MCH 33.2 Platelets 212 MPV 6.3 Neutrophils 1.8 Lymphocytes .65 Monocytes .17 Eosinophils .05 But, Please Please tell my WHY you think that such a tiny amount of lymphocytes can take care of single cells of cancers as the form, in addition to doing all their other immunologic duties. I'm just afraid there aren't going to be enough to go around. What happens to people like me in your experience? Remember what I'm worried about is the low lymphocytes NOT being able to stop NEW cancers.
Dear,
It is very difficult to explain through mail as the system is really complex.
However, I can assure you, it is enough and you can trust me on this.
Regards.
Thank you. I took your advice, and had my Doctor give me a blood test today. He was not worried about the results, but I am. The good thing was that the lymphocytes increased to .9. But, the neutrophils decreased to 1.0!! And the total white count was only 2.2. In just February the white count had been 4.0 and in April the neutrophils had been 1.8. Is it typical 9 months after chemo to have fluctuations in white counts like this??? Also could it be the Augmentin that I just stopped taking last week? Thank you. Also, do I have to worry about getting infections?
No worries. Counts will slowly recover back to normal values with good exercise and diet
Regards.
Thank you. But is it typical for the counts to go up and down like this 9 months out? They keep changing--sometimes up and sometimes down. Do you see this happen a lot?
Yes. Fluctuations in blood counts are normal until about 12-18 months after chemotherapy based on an individual's recovery potential.
Exercise and diet boosts immunity and improves blood counts.
Regards