I have itching, malaise, weight loss, bloody nose, fatigue. Doc dx'ed me with anemia of chronic disease and psoriatic arthritis. Blood test also revealed elevated sed rate and C-rp. Last blood test showed some recovery in red count but lower platelets.

Chest Xray shows mildly enlarged thymus, mildly enlarged spleen and mildly enlarged lymph node in right groin and a numer of lymp nodes right at the top of normal.

2 weeks ago I had blood in urine although chest xray showed kidney stones (no pain, though. Had 3 prior stones with intense severe pain)

Hemotologist wants me to do nothing until May.

Should I find a hemotologist who will do a marrow biopsy immediately?

Are these lekemia type symptoms?

Alan

From my experience, hematologists don't need to do bone marrow biopsies right away, particularly with the high-end diagnostic/prognostic indicators that can be quite useful in helping them help you. I'm not saying that such a test won't be done, but with new tests that will pick up "markers" in the blood sometimes such a test is not immediately warranted. That would be up the doctor you wished to see.

The constraints of this board do not allow me to say whether or not you have leukemia. I can only suggest that you go to the American Cancer Society's website, read all you can about the various types of leukemias, and draw your own conclusions.

When symptoms start kicking in like your's, it is just my opinion, but I would be in a hematologist's office ASAP. Why? Because sitting around and asking people on boards like this and researching yourself aren't doing much other than giving you a case of major anxiety.

If possible, find a board-certified doc. Better yet, find research centers that have a boatload of docs on staff who have spent their entire lives diagnosing leukemias. I don't know where you live, if you have health insurance, a job, a family, etc.

This is what I would consider doing if I were in your shoes: I'd call M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. They are one of the best facilities in the world, and all they do is research and treat cancer. They have a reputation for being cutting-edge when it comes to lymphomas and leukemias. Also, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City is a top facility. Other great centers would be Dana-Farber (Harvard Medical School); Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC; Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

I went to see a hemotologist and he basically said to wait until May. TRhat is absurd. I understand that I have serious back problems and a ton of arthritis. I know my anemia of chronic disease is mild. I know that the enlarged thymus and enlarged spleen and enlarged lymph node I have are all mildly enlarged. But I am COLD. I wear 3 shirts and 3 sweat shirts in warm South Florida weather. I am tired, losing weight. My sed rate is twice the guideline and while my red cell count is up, my platelets are down. I am itchy and getting bloody noses.

It is my understanding that leukemia can be dx'ed even without a rise in white cells. I'd like to get a marow biopsy to rule out leukemia or other serious problems!


Alan

If you believe waiting until May is absurd and you want a bone marrow biopsy or any other type of exam now, go see another doctor.

Here is the thing...I have many of the symptoms of leukemia but the ct scan shows "only" mild enlargements of spleen, thymus and lymph node. If it were leukemia, wouldn't it sho more than just mild?

Also, is possible to get leukemia with normal white cell count, low red cells and low platelets?

Finally, this henotologist told me that my red cells were shaped funny when examined under a microscope, but he wouldn't clarify that.


Alan