hello everyone...i was hoping someone could be so kind as to help me...frist let me say i have no health ins..as of yet but about 3weeks ago i look at a health ins..and bought it so iam waiting to be approved and get all that i need to see a hemotologist after i brought the ins.. i went to see my doctor endo. for my dieabetis...and he said that for the last year he has been watching my white count and they have stayed up between 25-35 thounsands...and that six months ago he order a specific wbc on me and he felt the need to send me to see a hemotologist...i have been complaining to him of how weak i fealt and how my joints were hurting so bad how i have a low grade fever everyday and i feel like iam catching a cold that never comes...he was also concern because about a year ago i weigh 194lbs and then i just lost weight in 3mos to 145 and since then i cant eat cos when i do i feel so full and my left side hurts so bad...like if i had ate lots and lots of food...but i dont ...i'll eat maybe half a sandwich and then i cant anymore and if i froce my self the pain on my left side is horrible...so "smile" i wanted to ask you guys if you think i might have leukemia or bone cancer..when i asked the doctor what he thought it might be he didnt blink an eye and said lukemia or bone cancer...i trust this doctor a lot i know him for 12yrs...You all are the first i have talked about this...i am not really worried about having lukemia or any other cancer is just that is killing me not knowing either way...i have to wait at least 30 more days before i can use the ins....so any information you guys might have for me i will thank you for it right now....and keep on smiling all of us...cos we are still among the living..and we know what life is really worth...so thank you all...smiles have great days..

Hi yaro:

A high white count by itself is not enough to tell whether you have cancer. Usually a special white blood cell differential test is done to determine whether the problem is leukemia, lymphoma, some other cancer or a non-cancerous blood disorder.

This test can take over a week to do in a lab because for example, in leukemia, the white blood cells have to be watched to see whether they mature properly. What the lab technician does with your white blood sample is actually count the number of white cells and record how many cells are at different stages of maturity. This observation, counting and recording goes on for a few days. It's important to have such detailed information because it helps determine the sub-type of the disease and therefore which therapy would be best.

If you need technical information about different leukemias and bone cancers, the National Cancer Institute has the most up-to-date and reliable information.
http://www.nci.nih.gov/

Good luck,
Jay

thank you for answering me...thank you very much..i had that blood work done ..that is why the doctor is sending me to a specialist....hemotologist....smile thank you again