Posts by Betty Clark95

I was wondering if anyone could take a look at my blood work. My lymphocytes are high, my neutrophils are low, and my ALP levels are also down (neutrophils at 36.9 [44-72], lymphocytes just above the range at 47.5 [20-46], and ALP at 31 [54-119]).

Everything else, including my white blood cell count, looks "normal" and right where it should be. I'm curious—could these three specific values be acting this way because I've had two surgeries over the last six months?

Usually, my blood work is perfect; I don't really deal with anything more serious than a seasonal flu or a common cold (honestly, I can't even remember the last time that happened). Since those two surgeries, though, I've been feeling pretty drained. My hair is thinning out more than usual, and I still haven't bounced back to my old self, even though I stay active through things like walking and yoga without pushing myself too hard. I'm assuming it's all just the aftermath of the operations and that it'll take some time for everything to level out again.

I'm not sure how much this might relate, but during a recent breast ultrasound, the surgeon noted "reactive lymph nodes in the axilla," though everything else looked fine, just like my previous exams.

@Crazydiamond2, my dad had colon cancer and underwent surgery back in 2014 at the Holy Spirit Hospital in Chicago. Honestly, I can't say enough good things about the care they provided.

I won't bore you with all the gritty details, but after a long string of scans and colonoscopies that—unfortunately—failed to pinpoint the actual issue, we ended up in the ER at Holy Spirit. He was dealing with intense pain and bleeding, and we were just at our wits' end because other doctors kept insisting on sending us home.

As luck would have it, Dr. Davorin Velnic happened to be on duty that day. He saw what was happening immediately and jumped straight into action. I’ll never forget the massive sense of relief we felt once someone finally started taking concrete steps; we are eternally grateful to him for everything he did for my dad. He took a biopsy right away, and while we waited for the results, he coordinated the necessary tests. Within two weeks of the findings coming back, Dad was hospitalized. They ran a few more diagnostics there, and he was in surgery within a couple of days. After that, he was referred from Holy Spirit to the Cancer Clinic for radiation and chemo (our doctor there was Hrvoje Sobat), and based on our experience, those folks are top-tier as well.

I don't know the specifics regarding your father-in-law, and I assume every case is unique—his treatment path might look completely different. What I do know is that this whole thing is a grueling, long process for everyone involved. Beyond finding excellent doctors and maintaining a positive mindset, a lot of variables have to line up perfectly. Still, it was such a weight off our shoulders when we finally knew we were in the hands of someone doing everything possible, even though the ultimate outcome remains uncertain regardless of how good the care is.

Good luck, and hang in there.