4 Responses to “My Best Friend Has A Low Red Cell And White Cell Count, Does This Mean He's Going To Die? ?”

1. angel122 says:

   October 15, 2009 at 12:08 am

   Aplastic Anemia is the inability of bone marrow to replenish blood cells. That means red cells, white cells and platelets. Aplastic Anemia cannot spread to lymph nodes. If his doctors are saying that, I highly recommend new doctors. Aplastic Anemia is rare and not a lot of doctors can successfully treat it. They’ll tell you that a bone marrow transplant is the only option, but that’s just not true. I was diagnosed with severe Aplastic Anemia 9 years ago. Today, I’m perfectly healthy and my blood counts are normal. If he has insurance and they’ll cover it, have him get referred to Johns Hopkins. Yell, scream, push, do whatever it takes if it’s possible. There is a hematologist there named Dr. Robert Brodsky http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hematolog… who specializes in Aplastic Anemia. He is the reason I’m alive today. It’s a rough road and it sucks for a long time, but I’m still alive and healthy. If it is Aplastic Anemia, he CAN beat it. I’m living proof.
2. :Þ says:

   October 15, 2009 at 12:27 am

   Good question. It’s unfortunate your friend has this but no one knows when they’re going to die. We all will eventually. However, low white cell counts just mean you’re likely to have more issues fighting off infection. Low red blood cells means if he has surgery he’ll need a transfusion. Both could be treatable through proper diet, etc. But with aplastic anemia he has to be more careful with his treatments. Not responding to his treatments may mean that the medication that he’s on isn’t working and he may need to switch meds or be placed on a higher dosage.
   Without knowing what else he’s going through and what treatment’s he’s exactly on, I’m sure he’ll be fine and he’s in with the best doctors his family can afford.
   Just be there for him and that’s all you can do.
3. Rebecca L says:

   October 15, 2009 at 6:01 am

   I have a very close friend who has had a low red blood count for years. She is being treated, and is having quite a bit of success. Unfortunately, she is chronic (can’t be cured) and will be dying in a few years. However, she has lived with this for about 13 years now, since she was very young, and is dying because of the condition she has, not the low red count. Low white means that the body cant’ fight infection, so he needs to stay in a clean area (or possibly completely sterile, depending on his exact count). Anemia is a condition that quite a bit is known about, so I wouldn’t give it too much concern. God has this one down, and it’s only in our hands to a certain extent.
4. Evil Inc says:

   October 15, 2009 at 10:35 am

   both are results from the treatment or medicines they are giving him , low red (part of anemia) means he is having problems carrying oxygen in his blood stream. low white will cause the inability to fight illnesses. neither will directly kill him if being treated.
   EDIT – this is in my opinion the single biggest obstacle in medicine today, each “cure” seems to cause more side effects than not. meaning every cure, needs a cure.