I was diagnosed with B-Cell Chronic Lymphatic Leuekmia a few weeks ago. It came about because of high white blood cell count. After looking back on my records they realized my WBC had been elevated for a few years. My tests showed cancerous cells at 38% yet am at Stage 0 since I don't show symptoms. I think this sounds like a high percentage of cancerous cells. I would like to know what others of you out there with similar %'s if your experiencing any symptoms?

I know if have felt more shortness of breath when I started working out again at the gym, I even get lightheaded and can loss my balance more easily.
I read an article a few days ago that with CLL you can even experience a problem with concentration, memory loss and poorer vision. I know these aren't apart of the regular list of symptoms for CLL but have any of you experienced these or know of cases where people did? The strange thing is I have experienced these symptoms the past two years but chalked it up to other things.

I would be grateful to hear any of your experiences. Thanks.

I was diagnosed with B-Cell Chronic Lymphatic Leuekmia a few weeks ago. It came about because of high white blood cell count. After looking back on my records they realized my WBC had been elevated for a few years. My tests showed cancerous cells at 38% yet am at Stage 0 since I don't show symptoms. I think this sounds like a high percentage of cancerous cells. I would like to know what others of you out there with similar %'s if your experiencing any symptoms?

I know if have felt more shortness of breath when I started working out again at the gym, I even get lightheaded and can loss my balance more easily.
I read an article a few days ago that with CLL you can even experience a problem with concentration, memory loss and poorer vision. I know these aren't apart of the regular list of symptoms for CLL but have any of you experienced these or know of cases where people did? The strange thing is I have experienced these symptoms the past two years but chalked it up to other things.

I would be grateful to hear any of your experiences. Thanks.
First get a second opinion on your diagnosis before you accept this as true. Next, If the second opinion is virtually the same, then talk to your doctor about treating the anemia. The stage has to do with the symptoms as well as the degree that the red cells are misshapened and malfunctioning. The white cells that are formed also do not have the infection fighting material they need to stand up to a bad cold which of course means the bad cold can drag on with symptoms for months without healing especially in the winter if the seasonal changes are severe. Just get that second opinion before setting your mind to it. The stage 0 is very hard to diagnose and many doctors will not even diagnose it until more advanced.(write it Down)

Yes. They would not diagnose me for a while...doctors have different thresholds for diagnosing the disease. So an second opinion is a good idea.

Do you mind if I ask how old you are? CLL can stay dormant or in stage 0 for years, and may never need treating, depending on your age and overall health. I am very young to have it, but am hoping by the time I need medication/treatments, they will have figured it out.

HI, I'm a 65 y.o. grandma/ gr. gram dx. with CLL in 2003. Stage 1 with elevated white count & enlarged lymph nodes. White counts cycle up and down and are at 43,000 now. Am sch. to see oncologist tomorrow but have seen one in the past and the treatment was watch and wait. I really don't feel bad ----just get a little tired. I keep up with housework, knitting, Bible study, and grandkids.I try not to get over tired and to try to avoid crowds----more likely to catch a cold or whatever.----Hope this helps!

Hi,

I am 48 yrs old which I know is a little younger than most, how old are you?
Have you had any symptoms yet? I don't understand why they hesitate to diagnose- doesn't the tests show a certain % of cancerous cells which indicate leukemia? What would a 2nd opinion do? THanks for your response.

I'm only 29. 27 when diagnosed. They are seeing younger incidences all the time.

Sometimes the high WBC resolves itself, or is due to an infection, and they are reticent to diagnose leukemia until it reaches a certain point. Did they do a bone marrow aspiration?

No, they didn't do a bone marrow aspiration. My WBC has been elevated for about 3-4 yrs. My last physical finally sent me to the Oncologist. I really didn't want to do a bone marrow test if I didn't have to. Are they painful? Do the conclusions of a blood test are they sometimes not indicative? Thanks.

My dad has had 2 bone marrow biopsies and one aspiration (due to 2nd opinion at M.D. Anderson Hospital). The biopsies were "non-eventful," by my father's estimation. The aspiration, however, took over a week for the pain to completely go away.

Blessings,
Kelly