Help with blood counts

[Ruth Ann]

the lab results from where my blood was sent the reference range for rbc is from 3.80 -5.20.
i guess labs are slightly different in their ranges - vicky is in the reference range per my lab.
hope this helps.
good thoughts and prayers to both of you.
ruth ann

[Greg]

Thanks Ruth Ann,

I did see on the American Cancer Society that labs vary regarding ranges so it's good to hear that from you as well.

Thanks again,

Greg

[Debbie L.]

Typically, the important value(s) in regards to red cell count (anemia) is hematocrit (Hct) and/or hemoglobin (Hg). I don't really know what the RBC count is measuring and what its relevancy is.

It interested me during treatment not so much that some people took a harder hit than others as far as blood cell production, but that there seemed to be little correlation between WBC's being affected vs. RBC's. For example, some of us whose WBC's tanked regularly had no problem with low RBC's, while others were severely anemic without ever needing neupogen for WBC's. And then there are the platelets also. Wouldn't you think the they'd all go together (up and/or down together)?

Do we have a laboratory scientist in the audience?

Debbie Laxague

Not a scientist, but there is always a range which varies from lab to lab. My own experience during chemo was that when it got low, they did something about it (I don't remember if it was a shot of aranesp or procrit) without me bringing it up (they looked at my blood counts, said you need a shot, and that was that). I think its one of the things they keep a careful eye on (particularly the nurses) and do something about.