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The Diagnosis

On March 26, 2002, I went for a routine physical exam, something I did on a regular basis. At the time I was feeling fine, and thought I was in pretty good shape for a 54 year old. I may have been a little over weight, but I had been riding a bicycle 150+ miles a week for the last 20 years. If nothing else, at least I was aerobically fit. Never in my wildest dreams was I concerned about a blood or lymphatic system cancer. My biggest concern was dealing with a cholesterol level greater then what would be considered healthy.

So it was with great surprise, when a friend, who works at the clinic were I went for my exam and blood test, came over to my house and asked "how are you feeling?" Of course I answered fine. She went on to confirm that, and at the same time inform me that my lymphocyte count was elevated.

The obvious response to that sort of news, especially when you're feeling fine, is to chalk it up to being a lab error. So when the doctor authorized a second blood test, I immediately ran to have it performed.

As you may have already surmised, the results were not a lab error. The results were the same as originally reported. Subseguent blood tests were then ordered to evaluate the reason for the high lymphocyte count.

When the results (immunophenotyping) came back, the diagnosis was Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

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