ANC counts

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• April 4, 2019 at 5:17 pm #46431
  Debbie Gill

  Participant

  Hello all,

  I have a quick question about ANC counts. What will happen if an ANC count reaches zero? My apologies if this question sounds stupid, but my count is getting lower and lower.

  Thanks in advance.

  Debbie

  April 5, 2019 at 9:08 pm #46438
  Michael

  Participant

  Debbie

  While I can’t directly answer your question i can give some perspective on low ANC. I was dx 3 yrs ago with MDS. I have multi line dysplaysa but only one cytopenia— neutropenia. I have monthly blood tests and I fall in the severely neutropenic category about 80% of the time. My average ANC is around 300 with a low point of 90. During this time I have had skin infections/abscesses but have only once sought medical intervention.

  My MDS expert tells me not to worry about the monthly numbers as I generally am infection free without other symptoms. As a former accountant it is difficult for me to ignore the numbers but I’m trying. I have been on watch and wait since diagnosis. Early on I received occasional neupogen shots but have had one in about two yrs.

  Best wishes

  April 5, 2019 at 10:04 pm #46439
  Debbie Gill

  Participant

  Thank you for your response, Michael.

  I was diagnosed with MDS (unclassified) in October 2018. I also have monthly blood tests. All of my counts (White, Red, and Platelets) are low: White at 2.21, Red at 3.79, and Platelets at 67. My most recent ANC was 250, down from 400 the month before. That was the reason for my question as I have a doctor who is a little bit
  non-communicative, although he does tell me to not worry about the numbers, that he is trying to figure why they are doing what they are doing.

  Thanks again!

  April 5, 2019 at 11:02 pm #46441
  Michael

  Participant

  Debbie

  Are you having treatment? Generally blood counts will decrease in initial treatment months. Do you have any symptoms and how do you feel? With the low ANC, I’m sure you are diligent about hygiene and wash wash wash those hands. I don’t wear a mask except when I fly, visit a hospital or take other form of mass transportation. I have eight grandkids, my daughters refer to them as Petri dishes. All family and friends know they are taboo to me when they are ill. Soap and water, “Purell” and being diligent about avoiding sick people seems to be working for me. I’m not ready to shut out the world but am cautious in my approach to living as full a life as possible.

  Hang in there.

  April 5, 2019 at 11:19 pm #46442
  Debbie Gill

  Participant

  Hi Michael,

  Thanks again for your message.

  I am on “watch and monitor”, with an antibiotic and an antiviral medicine. I am very diligent about hygiene and washing hands, etc. The doctor has told me he wants me “house bound” and not to be around more than two or three people (who aren’t sick!) at a time, until he figures out what is going on and definitely no air travel (we talked about this because I am supposed to be presenting a couple of papers at a conference). I also don’t want to shut out the world yet, but I will listen to him for now. I teach at a University and was lucky this semester to be teaching only online (only because I had been diagnosed with endometrial cancer and had surgery for it). Teaching online will change in August, so we’ll see what happens!

  I am not feeling bad, except fatigued, chills, and bone soreness (worse at night than in the day). I did have an infection in my lower leg which was treated, but seems to be acting up again, so we’ll see.

  I definitely will continue to live as full a life as possible too!

  Take care and thank you!

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