To think a referral to a cancer unit is never good news?

[StableMaid]

Family member had recent blood checks which found white blood cells were abnormal. She's been referred to a haemotologist. No big deal there but this heamotologist is situated within the oncology and haemotology unit. The hospital has other haemotology units that don't deal with cancer but this unit is a cancer specialist unit.

Her mother died of leukaemia and her sister died of lymphoma.

This isn't going to turn out to be nothing sinister is it?

Maybe because of her family history they aren't taking any chances so want her to see someone more experienced in both areas.

It's not necessarily bad news. DH was referred to a haematologist who specialised in oncology, and it turned out he had an auto-immune disorder that was playing havoc with some blood cells. Hope it all turns out OK for you all - it's a really worrying time, I know xx

LittleBairn is right. They are not taking chances with a family history ike that.

I'm sure you're right that cancer is being considered, but that doesn't mean she has it (I have a relative who saw a lymphoma specialist in an illness, that did not turn out to be cancer, and from which my relative fully recovered more than 5 years ago). Moreover if she has it, it may be curable. Good luck.

Don't get ahead of yourself, tho' I know it's difficult.

You need a cancer specialist to decided what is NOT cancer, as much as to decide what is.

It was a real downer to have to walk into the Gynaeoncology Clinic - but the outcome was fine!

There are loads of reasons why white cell levels can be abnormal. I know it's hard, but try to step away from Dr Google..

And, even if it is a leukaemia or similar, many of them have very high cure rates.

With her family history I'd expect her to be referred like that - she's under the best care she can be, look at it that way.

Waiting and not knowing is awful but picking things up early and being treated by a good team are huge points in her favour. There are also loads of things that can make your white cells go a bit haywire that are not cancer.

Hoping for a good result for you and her.