My mom was just diagnosed with CLL, her WBC was 20,000 (stage 0). Does anyone know how they do the staging?

Question:

She doesn't have any symptoms and it was just found from a routine blood test for a physical. Apparently this a type of leukemia that progresses slowly and people live a long time before getting sick. Her hematologist said for now he doesn't recommend any treatment because it is so early, I guess we just wait for her to get sick and then treat it with chemo or radiation? Her next doctors appointment isn't until 9/28 and I'll be able to go with her and ask questions then but I just was hoping maybe someone might have some info on here.

Answers:
Sorry about the bad news. I hope this anwer can give you some insight. Check out the links. And the best of luck. My heart goes out to you.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is classified by one of two cytologic staging systems, which known as Rai Classification and Binet Staging, respectively.

Rai Classification
Rai Classificationseparates chronic lymphocytic leukemia into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories, which correspond with stages 0, I & II, and III & IV, respectively:

Rai Stage 0 patients are low risk and have lymphocytosis, a high lymphocyte count defined as more than 15,000 lymphocytes per cubic millimeter (> 15,000 /mm3).

Rai Stage I patients are intermediate risk and have lymphocytosis plus enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy).

Rai Stage II patients are also intermediate risk but have lymphocytosis plus an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) or enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), with or without lymphadenopathy.

Rai Stage III patients are high-risk and have lymphocytosis plus anemia, a low red blood cell count (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL), with or without lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, or splenomegaly.

Rai Stage IV patients are also high-risk but have lymphocytosis plus thrombocytopenia, a low number of blood platelets (< 100 – 103 /µL).

Rai Classification is used to stage CLL

Rai Classification separates chronic lymphocytic leukemia into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories, which correspond with stages 0, I & II, and III & IV, respectively:

* Rai Stage 0 patients are low risk and have lymphocytosis, a high lymphocyte count defined as more than 15,000 lymphocytes per cubic millimeter (> 15,000 /mm3).

* Rai Stage I patients are intermediate risk and have lymphocytosis plus enlarged lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy).

* Rai Stage II patients are also intermediate risk but have lymphocytosis plus an enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) or enlarged spleen (splenomegaly), with or without lymphadenopathy.

* Rai Stage III patients are high-risk and have lymphocytosis plus anemia, a low red blood cell count (hemoglobin < 11 g/dL), with or without lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly, or splenomegaly.

* Rai Stage IV patients are also high-risk but have lymphocytosis plus thrombocytopenia, a low number of blood platelets (< 100 – 103 /µL).

Best of luck to you and your mom.

Best thing to do is go on the American Cancer Society website. You can get up to date information to help you. If she is Stage 0, that is the best there is, the higher the number the worse the condition. Be glad, you caught this early. My mom was Stage 5 with colon cancer by the time we caught hers. She died last June...Thinking and Praying for you.

More Questions and Answers

The consumer health information on youqa.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.

My mom was just diagnosed with CLL, her WBC was 20,000 (stage 0). Does anyone know how they do the staging?

Health Resources