WBC, RBC & WTF?!?

Blood work.

Crunching numbers

 

The results are always confusing to me. There always seems to be such variance from one result to the next. Hmmm. This number went up, while another went down. What does it all mean?!  WBC and RBC, and....,  and...., and....

All I know is, we were elated this winter when mom's results suggested that she was doing better. In fact, the results spurred the creation of this blog.

WBC last fall was about 215, and dropped to 92 in the new year.  Promising.
Neutrophils were funny.
Last fall they were 32 but dropped to .93 in the new year. Hmmm?
Lymphocytes last fall were 180 and then dipped down to 91 in the new year. Ya hoo!

Spirulina, packed full of easily digestible protein & super greens.

Chelates toxins.

As far as I can determine, mom kept up her regime and even added Sprirulina to her daily supplement list. Then her back/hip went "out" while gardening this spring. This seems to happen the same time every year lately. And, it has been an up-hill battle ever since. Before I delve into some of the details, I want to preface that we maintain hope that mom will still beat this condition. I am certainly not trained to analyze mom's blood work, but I do think things are looking up. And her instinct is that her hip/back problems are somehow connected to the CLL. Could be. I also believe that occurances do not happen in isolation of each other, but are interconnected.

What I know is that late this spring we were disasppointed when her WBC was back up and had climbed to 229.  Interestly, a month later her WBC was down to 214. Down is good.

Mom's neutrophils in the spring were 4, but a month later her neutrophils were 34. What?!

The lymphocytes had climbed to 225 this spring, but then decreased to 177 a month later.

Hemoglobin has not bounced around as much as far as I can tell ... 114 in spring, to 108.

RBC and platelets have been in the "normal" range.

Seriously, it's enough to make your head spin. And so I started looking up charts and trying to make sense of it all. Perhaps it is futile, but something needed to be done. A website: cllsupport.org.uk helped me in my efforts to make sense of some of the numbers and indicated the "normal" ranges one could expect to see.

If I am understanding the numbers correctly, then mom's ratio of WBC to lymphocytes is such that the numbers are looking better. 229:225  in the spring v.s. 214:177 a month later.

But why are the neutrophils so high compared to other results? I know that they're used to fight infection. But mom doesn't recall having a cold or illness. A bad hip and back lately, yes. But no infection or virus. And then I read that the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes is usually 3:1. Interesting information, but I don't know what to do with it.

Meanwhile, it is still "watch & wait" as far as her oncologist is concerned. To compliment her own wellbeing, Mom is seeing an osteopath for her hip/back problems, and we're hoping that this paint clears up soon. Osteopath treatments appear to give her relief, and she is moving around without her walker or cane these days. It was bad for a while. More recently, she has sought the help of an accupuncturist and has been a "pin cushion" once a week for a few weeks now, to help with the CLL. And, for the last month, she has been making great efforts to eat foods that make her body more alkaline. In addition to this, she has been having smoothies made with my homemade kefir, which is rich in B vitamins and probiotic goodness. Beneficial outcomes should be demonstrated in her next round of blood work.

I used to buy Pinehedge (super delicious and creamy!)

but then I started fermenting our own kefir at home.

And just last week I found Black Seed at a local shop. If you do your own due dilligence, you'll read that black cumin has been acclaimed for curing a lot of dis-ease, and boosts the immune system tremendously. If it can't cause harm, why not try it? She takes a few teaspoons of the oil in the morning, and 3 capsules in the evening. I am expecting that this will also have an impact on mom's next round of bloodwork.

Black Seed, aka black cumin. We are all taking

the full spectrum capsules.

Truly, I believe that our bodies have infinite healing capabilities that we can tap into. CLL can be beat and we maintain hope that mom can achieve it.

~Believe~

Daily Nutrition

I am forever grateful that growing up, our parents cooked from first principles. They truly cared about where our food came from and in hindsight, our experience is a little unique. Our freezer was always full of grass fed beef from local farmers, and game meat (moose & deer). Saurkraut was often fermenting in the corner of the kitchen, and we picked wild mushrooms that we dehydrated on screens in the sunshine. Dad always had a pot of soup or stew for us to dig into when we got home from school. Truly, I could make an extensive list about our healthy beginnings, but it is suffice to say that the tradition of healthy eating has stayed with us all.

Mom and my youngest at the soccer field,

 glad to be living a glutenfree lifestyle

When my boys, myself and my sister developed celiac, it didn't take mom a whole lot of time to make changes to her own diet. Lucky for her, she doesn't have the same incapacitating symtoms that we do and she can "cheat" on her gluten-free diet. She does claim that she feels so much better for adjusting her eating habits. And she has always been good to eat vegetables, but there are a few changes that she made in the last few months that she would like me to share. This is her story, afterall, and she writes...

Before I continue with facts involving my attempts to heal my body with foods, I'd like to write a little about a gluten free diet. Yes, with my daughters encouragement I did go gluten free. I had been very tired for years and assumed it was the effects of CLL, afterall that is one of the symptoms. However, with the elimination of wheat and all other gluten containing grains, I not only was less tired, but I no longer required the antacids I had taken most of my life in order to digest my food without heartburn. I had been poisoning myself with a large bowl of AllBran cereal each and every morning. But I hadn't learned my lesson yet. After a year of being gluten free I again consumed a bowl of AllBran cereal. I immediately learned what it must feel like to be afflicted with narcolepsy. I was so tired that I was unable to drive and went to bed for the remainder of the day. I think everyone should read the book WHEAT BELLY authored by Cardiologist, William Davis, MD (see his blog here) .    

Having received an unexpected 52 point hike in the WBC count in the fall, along with a lowered hemoglobin count while adhering to what I considered a nutritious diet, panic set in. My weight was also dropping fast and I didn't have any extra lbs to lose, especially with the thought of chemo approaching. So off to the grocery store and local organic market I went, armed with a list of iron rich foods.  

Breakfast became BOB'S RED MILL brown rice farina creamy rice cooked with a handful of dates or raisins as well as 3 tbspns of coconut oil. Before consuming, I sprinkle it with cinnamon and add almond milk. This "cereal" provides 3 grams of protein & 2 grams of fibre. A glass of orange jc helps to absorb the iron. Between meals, snacks became sunflower seeds, almonds, dried apricots, dates, raisins & raw broccoli. Twice per day I consume one cup of prepared pumpkin pudding, made with almond milk & sweetened with maple syrup (a natural sugar). The pumpkin is from a local organic farm (not canned) , high in Vit A, beta carotene, fibre and iron. 

Lunch consists of a large green salad, usually red lettuce, swiss chard or spinach sprinkled with hemp hearts. I eat swiss chard and spinach every way imaginable. I added a daily consumption of red cabbage and baby bok choy (Chinese cabbage). The red cabbage is prepared as a soup adding onion & an assortment of other veggies as well as fried ground beef. Cabbage is rich in cancer fighting compounds & the red cabb is higher in vit C than others. Among the many benefits of cabbage is the "indol 3-carbinol" which in animal studies reduced the risk of cancer. The baby bok choy is prepared by stir-frying & adding a variety of veggies. An onion per day, either raw or cooked, has always been a part of my diet.

As for beverages consumed, my two coffees became one, followed by green tea and carbonated spring water. Plain water is so boring.

I have to admit that when I read this, I panicked a little when I read the part at the end, where Mom wrote about carbonated spring water. You see, I thought I'd read somewhere that carbonated drinks had a negative impact on bone density. But, after a little reading on the topic, it turns out that according to the research, carbonated water is not one of the culprits (it was soft drinks), and the Mayo Clinic explains about the research that has been done.

Mom eats her bok choy 5 nights out of the week, and she just picked up some Spirulina (more on her other nutritional supplements in another post) so I suspect that she might be looking a little green when I visit her next :) I'm going to venture to say that growing up on a farm, where Grandpa and Gramma raised their own animals and grew their own vegetables likely had an impact on the food and lifestyle choices that mom has made thoughout her life. However, I know that with her diagnosis and the rise in her WBC this fall. everytime she picks up her fork, she thinks more about food being her medicine, as opposed to it being something to fill the void in her stomach.

Mom, with her mom (Great Gramma) and (great) grandsons

6 months prior to her WBC falling 122 points

Posted by: Deb & Mom (June)

Healing Clay

As we mentioned in our previous post on oil pulling, the complimentary treatment that mom has chosen to engage in do not interfere with the allopathic treatment plan that her team of health care professionals have recommended. Certainly, we claim no expertise and therefore are not providing anyone with medical advice. This is mom's story.

Mom at Thanksgiving on Lac Ste Marie, with her three grandsons

While we are elated, we continue to be deeply curious about why mom's immature/malformed white blood cell count (WBC) dropped 122 points over the course of a few months. She is no longer as tired as she once was, though she continues to experience fatigue. We wonder if we can get those points to go even lower. Perhaps even go into spontaneous remission. There is always hope. And as we go through the list of what she has been doing differently these past few months, "healing clay" made its way into the conversation.

This must be Inno-Vite's new label, but it's the same stuff mom takes

Bentonite clay is known by many as a "healing clay". I discovered bentonite clay last year when I decided to make my own toothpaste. I found the Wellness Mama blog site that recommended it, and did some more reading about the many health benefits of bentonite. It is touted as being able to absorb heavy metals and toxins in the body, and safely eliminate them. It is also beneficial for the immune system as it apparently absorbs bacteria and viruses. When I discovered liquified  bentonite clay at a local health food store, it quickly made its way into mom's new daily regime. Mom's already healthy living routine kicked into high gear this fall when her WBC numbers got higher and we were bracing ourselves for the reality of chemotherapy. She says she takes only a couple of tablespoons of liquified bentonite each day. We can't know what impact it is having on her system in such small amounts, though it is probably best that she keep the detox a gentle experience.

Personally, I would love to see her using the powder and soaking in bentonite foot baths daily. However, the foot baths would be a little more onerous than taking a few spoonfuls of liquified bentonite.  And to be honest, that routine would likely be a challenge to maintain for an extended period of time when she is really fatigued. I suspect that if, or when she does go into treatment, consuming bentonite (or soaking in it) would also be a great way to help cleanse the system of the cytotoxic drugs, after treatment.

Meanwhile, mom continues to keep liquified bentonite as part of her daily complimentary practice. And we continue to carry hope.

Posted by: Deb

Coconut Oil "Pulling"

I'd like to preface this post by recognizing the difference between alternative and complimentary methods or practices. The life style changes and practices that mom has engaged in have always been done in addition to blood work and follow-up appointments with her allopathic doctors and oncologists. If, and when chemotherapy is the recommended medical protocol, I know that mom will not deviate from the advice that is given. The changes she has made are not an alternative to treatment, but are complimentary to treatment and do not interfere with the care provided by her team of health care professionals. And of course, it must be said that we are not in any position to provide medical advice - it is not our realm of expertise by a long stretch.

                                       

In light of mom's recent significant drop in WBC (immature/malformed cells) we were asking ourselves, what has she been doing differently these past three months? Is it possible that this could have influenced her blood count? To be honest, we were in near panic mode this fall, anticipating chemotherapy treatment. Mom was tired.  I mean, truly exhausted. This is nothing new as she has had fibromayalgia for decades. So when mom said she had never felt so tired, we knew something was really amiss. She was feeling light headed and her memory was suffering too.

I ask a lot of questions, and when it comes to the health of my family I am always asking, "Why?" and searching for "root cause". Why is her body producing immature white blood cells? Why is her system overactive and pumping out WBCs before they have had a chance to mature? I doubt a simple answer is available. But some suggest chemical interference is a trigger. Was it the benzene from years of inhaling second hand smoke? Was it the mouth full of mercury fillings she has had for decades. Was it the DDT that was used on her property in Florida (she was a snow bird for years)? Was it the cleaning supplies she used when running the Resort? Was it the paint fumes from Dad's bike restoration hobby? Or was it the poor ventilation in her office at Canadian General Electric where she worked for many years. Perhaps an accumulation of it all, on a sensitive system? Regardless, it had me thinking "detox".

In the midst of all this, I was in the practice of "oil pulling" to help with gum issues. I don't remember exactly how I came upon the information, but I kept doing research. What I read got me to thinking that this method might prove beneficial for mom. What did we have to lose?

(follow this link for information on oil pulling with coconut oil )

She got some coconut oil a few months back and she says that she did (and continues to) "oil pull" first thing in the morning, and sometimes later in the day too. The general method is to take a couple of teaspoons of coconut oil orally, and vigorously swish it about in your mouth for 15 -20 minutes. It is important to spit the oil out afterwards, as it believed that it pulls toxins out of your body, hence the name "oil pulling". I also came across information that made claim that your WBCs had direct access to the healthy components in the oil (when absorbed under the tongue compared to the stomach), and apparently it gives them "super powers". As it wouldn't interfere with any of her current medications, what did she have to lose? There is an added bonus that it brightens and is healthy for your teeth.

(follow this link to an article by Dr. Oz on the surprising benefits of coconut oil. )

Whether or not this is having an impact on the WBC decreasing by 122 points, we'll never know. But she is not about to stop!  We maintain hope that "something", or maybe a combination of "things" are making the difference. Oil pulling is just one part of the equation, and this blog is about playing "catch-up" as we relive the journey, and eagerly await the results from her next round of bloodwork (3 months).

Posted by: Deb

About Mom

We have been inspired by hope. Our hope has been to combat Chronic Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL) and see this dis-ease fall into spontaneous remission. If you're reading this, there is a good likelihood that someone close to you has been diagnosed with CLL. This blog has been created with the intention of providing hope for families who have also received this diagnosis.

(double click the link to see a good summary of CLL posted by the Canadian Cancer Society .)

Here is our "quick" story:

For nine years, our mother has been burdened by Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). And for nine years she has made many decisions with this chronic condition weighing in. With her permission, this is her journey of life style changes to share with others. You see, we have watched my mother's white blood count (WBC) gradually rise (and sometimes fall a few points) over the past 9 years. When we recently received news that her WBCs had reached a level where treatment would be necessary, we braced ourselves. Then, miraculously and suddenly, it fell 122 points. We don't honestly know what is yet to come. Could the counts suddenly double by the time she goes for her next round of blood work? It's possible. Or, could it possibly be that she is going into "spontaneous" remission? We don't know. Her doctors are curious and are not sure what to make of this sudden and significant drop.  And so, we begin this blog to document our journey and give people hope.

Mom hiking in La Rose Forest Conservation Area

There seems to be a prevalent fear surrounding the exploration of complimentary or alternative treatments. If it's not documented in a medical journal, or mentioned at a conference, then it is often dismissed. Understandable, as this "treatment" is not part of medical school training and studies are challenging to execute. I am grateful that mom has not closed doors and been open to complimentary treatment, all the while under the care of many trusted and caring oncologists. Recent events have inspired the inception of this blog and so I think that we will be playing "catch-up" in our attempt to explain our mother's progression with this condition using complimentary "treatments".

Posted by: Deb