17041 Understanding the Basics of your Complete Blood Count (CBC): For Patients with Cancer
Document Description: This document provides a basic understanding of your complete blood count lab results. This document will provide definitions and examples of why levels may be low or high for RBC, WBC, and platelets for the cancer patient.
Understanding the Basics of your Complete Blood Count (CBC):
For Patients with Cancer
Red Blood Cell (RBC): The job of red blood cells are to carry oxygen from your lungs to your body and then waste back to the lungs.
Normal Value 4.60- 6.20 M/uL*
Hemoglobin (Hbg): Hemoglobin is a part of your red blood cell. It carries the oxygen to your body. fdgs
Normal Value 14.0-18.0 g/dL*
Hematocrit (Hct): Hematocrit is the amount of space the RBCs take up in the blood.
Normal Value 40.0-52%*
*When you have cancer, the cancer, medications, chemotherapy, and treatments may cause a low RBC, Hbg, and Hct. You may need to have a RBC or blood transfusion.
What could cause a LOW level?
-
- There are not enough RBC made
- Anemia (low number of RBC), cancer, chemotherapy, medications etc.
- There is damage to RBC
- a large spleen etc.
- There is a loss of red blood cells
- bleeding etc.
- There are not enough RBC made
What could cause a HIGH level?
-
- There are too many red blood cells being mad
- heart failure or certain cancers, etc.
- The body needs more oxygen
- smoking etc.
- There are medications or hormones causing an increase of RBC
- There are too many red blood cells being mad
White Blood Cell (WBC): White blood cells are also called “leukocytes”. The job of white blood cells are to fight off bacteria, viruses, and other harmful things in the body. They are an important part of the immune system to help keep you healthy and fight off diseases.
Normal Value 4.00-11.00 k/uL*
ANC (absolute neutrophil count): Neutrophils are a type of the white blood cell and are considered the “fighters” of the white blood cells. Neutrophils work to prevent infections, attacking infections in your body, and helping to heal tissues damaged by infections.
Normal Value 1.80-8.00 k/Ul*
*When you have cancer, cancer, medications, chemotherapy, and treatments may cause a low or high WBC/ANC.
What could cause a LOW level?
-
- Cancer, chemotherapy, medications, radiation, disorders present at birth, diseases like Chrons or Lupus, and other treatments etc.
What could cause a HIGH level?
-
- Infections, cancer, diseases like Chrons or Lupus, and medications (like steroids etc)
Platelet (PLT): The platelets help stop bleeding. If there is damage in your blood vessels, platelets will go to that area and form a clot or plug to fix the problem. Normal Value 150-450 k/uL*
What could cause a LOW level?
-
- Cancer, chemotherapy, medications, radiation, large spleen, infections, viruses, high alcohol intake, low RBC, pregnancy, other treatments.
What could cause a HIGH level?
-
- Blood disorders, viruses, inflammatory diseases; medications and other treatment
*When you have cancer, the cancer itself, medications, chemotherapy, and treatments may cause a low or high PLTs.