low white blood count

My son who is in late stage multiple myloma just called and said his WBC was 3 when he had it tested at the clinic today. Someone tell me what is normal and this sounds really critical to me, am I wrong?

Hi,

I don't believe 3 is a very low white cell count. Mine is generally around 3.3 to 4.

I think if it gets below 2, then you have to really watch out towards catching an infection. There are other factors involved in your white blood count like grans and neutrophils, but I'm not sure what the factors are.

Monica

 

Where I get my labs done the normal range for white count (WBC) is 4.10-10.6.  His count is not critical, but he should be careful of infections, as it is below normal.  His immune system is compromised because of the cancer and more so if he's on any chemo drugs.  So, even if his WBC was normal, he should be careful of infections.

The nurses at his oncologists office should be advising him of any precautions in general.

Take care,

Lois

 

From Anna,

Hi Supportive Mom, Welcome to the group. How old is your son may I ask?  I agree with Lois he needs to stay away from people that are sick. Even those that have a sinus infection. Yes to most people they are not a problem but to them is it.  They can get something worse from people with just a sinus infection. Also I don't know if you read my recent post but Dad can get a sinus infection and if he doesn't start antibiotic right away within 2 or 3 days he can have Pneumonia.  Now we still aren't sure yet if this last time he had pnuemonia or if he got a reaction for the blood transfusion he got last Friday.  He went to a new GP yesterday.  He's at his cancer Dr. right now.  So I want to wait and his what his cancer Dr. says.

Your friend,

Anna

Good Evening Supportive Mom;

Someone tell me what is normal and this sounds really critical to me, am I wrong?

Normal range for whites is  4.1 to 10.9. I agree with Lois, he's not critical. Anna is correct, infection is high right now. Keep him away from crowds, including relatives. Hand washing is important.  Stop handling money till he returns to closer to norm.

Take care;

Kevin

I am responding to people with types of neutropenia T-LGL etc. I have severe chronic idiopathic neutropenia (this is I think because they do not really know what have had every blood test known to man, 2 bone marrow biopsies etc...Have have horrid infections (sinus x2 one definitely fungal) cellulities, knee , other skin infections, herpes zostor (shingles) all in a short period of time...white count .2and neutrophiles .1 been treated with neupogen...counts went even lower...steroids put them to normal ...steroids with methotrexate ok..normal...take the steroid away and counts back to zip...putting me at risk for every kind of natural bug...opportunistic devils anyway..waiting for doc to tell me what is next I did find on line a government sponsored organization at the University of Washington/Seattle called SCNIR (Severe Chronic Neutropenia International Registry) just google SCNIR and they have an e mail address and phone numbers and a PDF registry file...they know A LOT and I think will end up being a help to me...they can tell you about doctors in your area who have patients on the registry..docs who KNOW neutropenia.... and they can find out if you really have what docs say you have I cannot fathom being diagnosed with LGL in 2 visits...comprehensive lab work of all sorts must be done first.. and bone marrow biopsy etc....several series of white counts etc.... anyway....that's me anyone out there with similar stories..help? how are you being treated? and check out that registry....