Can Cancer Cause High White Blood Cell Count – Medically Reviewed by Suzanne Falck, M.D., FACP – Lori Smith, MSN, BSN, WHNP-BC – Updated 2023 January 3

White blood cells help fight infection and are essential for health and well-being. Changes in the number of white blood cells can occur during infections, pregnancy and some forms of cancer.

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A high white blood cell count may indicate that the immune system is trying to fight off an infection.

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It can also be a sign of physical or emotional stress. People with certain blood cancers may also have high white blood cell counts.

A low white blood cell count can mean that an injury or condition is destroying cells faster than the body is making them, or that the body is making too few of them.

White blood cells make up about 1% of all blood cells and are essential for the normal functioning of the immune system. White blood cells are also known as leukocytes.

The bone marrow is constantly producing white blood cells. They are stored in the blood and lymphatic systems until they are needed to fight infection or disease in the body.

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There are usually 4,500 to 11,000 white blood cells in each microliter of blood, although this can vary by gender, age, and race.

When needed, monocytes travel to other organs, such as the spleen, liver, lungs, and bone marrow, where they transform into cells called macrophages.

The macrophage is responsible for many functions, including the removal of dead or damaged tissue, the destruction of cancer cells, and the regulation of the immune response.

An increase in white blood cells is called leukocytosis. This usually occurs in response to the following conditions:

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Certain respiratory diseases, such as whooping cough or tuberculosis, can cause an increase in white blood cells.

In some cases, all white blood cells are affected. However, some people have a specific disease where only one type of white blood cell is affected.

If there is an increase in one particular type of white blood cell, it may be due to a specific trigger:

Sometimes there is no reason for an increase in white blood cells. This is known as idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. It can cause serious complications such as damage to the heart, lungs, liver, skin and nervous system.

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The number of white blood cells increases significantly during a healthy pregnancy due to the physical stress the body experiences during this period. Levels begin to rise in the first trimester and continue to rise in the third trimester.

Of white blood cells in each microliter of blood. This is a response to exercise and birth trauma.

If the number of white blood cells is lower than normal, it may be a sign that the person’s immune function is weakened.

A lack of white blood cells is why people with diseases or medications that suppress the immune system are at increased risk of infection.

High White Blood Cell Count: Causes, Types, And More

They occur when too many immature blood cells are produced, causing an imbalance. Myeloproliferative disorders are rare conditions that may or may not become malignant.

The exact effect of a high white blood cell count depends on the condition or factor causing it.

If you notice any symptoms, your doctor may order a blood test to measure your white blood cell count, and often additional testing and testing will be needed to determine the exact cause of the problem.

A high white blood cell count can indicate several things, such as the immune system trying to fight off an infection, a sign of physical or emotional stress, or certain types of cancer.

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Pregnancy also results in a high white blood cell count, as levels typically increase from the first trimester to the third. The number of white blood cells will also increase in the hours after giving birth due to the severe stress on the body.

Meanwhile, a low white blood cell count may mean that an injury or condition is destroying cells faster than the body is producing them. It can also mean that the body is not producing enough of them.

Although the symptoms will depend on the cause of the high white blood cell count, fluctuations in the white blood cell count may not cause any symptoms.

Medical news today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies only on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using third party links. In each article, we link to primary sources, including research, scientific references, and statistics, and provide them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy. White blood cells play an important role in your body’s immune system, searching out viruses, bacteria and fungi that have invaded your bloodstream. When a foreign virus or bacteria enters your bloodstream, white blood cells (also known as leukocytes) recognize and destroy the invading particle before it can cause disease. There are several different types of white blood cells, each with its own function. Some directly kill foreign bacteria, while others attack your own virus-infected cells. Other types of white blood cells can even play a role in allergic reactions! What happens when the white blood cell count is high? Because white blood cells fight infection, people tend to think that having more white blood cells is actually beneficial. This is not necessarily the case! An elevated white blood cell count is not a specific disease in itself, but it can indicate an underlying problem, such as infection, stress, inflammation, trauma, allergies, or certain diseases. This is why a high white blood cell count usually requires further investigation. The InsideTrackerblood analysis measures your white blood cell count and will tell you if it is in the optimal zone for you. If your white blood cell count is high, you should talk to your doctor. In addition to your total white blood cell count, InsideTracker also measures different types of white blood cells, which can give you clues about what may be causing your white blood cell count to rise. The types of white blood cells are: neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils. Neutrophils, which make up about 70% of white blood cells, can increase in response to bacterial infections as well as physical or emotional stress. A high lymphocyte count can occur when there is a viral or bacterial infection. Elevated monocytes may indicate chronic inflammation. Basophils and eosinophils may increase in allergic reactions or parasitic infections. What are the symptoms of an elevated white blood cell count? The only way to really tell if your levels are too high is to have your blood tested at your doctor’s office or through InsideTracker. People with high (above normal) white blood cell counts usually do not have any specific symptoms, but may have medical conditions that cause high white blood cell counts. The specific number of a high (above normal) white blood cell count varies from laboratory to laboratory, but the general rule is that a leukocyte count of more than 10,500 per microliter of blood in an adult is generally considered to be high, and 4,500 to 10,500 is considered the normal range. Because a high (more than normal) white blood cell count can be a symptom of another underlying problem, symptoms associated with that condition may appear. However, people with leukocytosis may also experience a combination of the following symptoms: fever, fainting, bleeding, bruising, weight loss, and general pain. What are the causes of an increase in the number of white blood cells? There are several reasons why your white blood cell count may be higher than normal: Infection – When bacteria or viruses that cause an infection multiply in the blood, your bone marrow makes more white blood cells to fight the infection. The infection can also cause inflammation, which can lead to an increase in the white blood cell count. Smoking or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – Basically, COPD means you have a lung and airway disease, such as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, that blocks proper airflow. It is usually caused by cigarette smoking, which causes inflammation of the lungs and airways. When you get more inflammation in your lungs and airways, your body will make more white blood cells to fight it. Leukemia – Leukemia is a type of cancer that causes a large increase in the number of white blood cells. Leukemic white blood cells are often inactive, which can increase the risk of infection in these cancer patients. Immune system disorders – Some autoimmune disorders, such as Crohn’s disease or Graves’ disease, can increase the number of white blood cells. If you have one of these conditions, your doctor should monitor the amount of white blood cells in your blood. Stress – Finally, emotional or physical stress can also cause an elevated white blood cell count. The good news is that once the stress is over, your white blood cell count will return to normal. How does exercise affect your white blood cell count? If you had your blood tested right after your workout, you may not need to worry—your body actually increases your white blood cell count during exercise! In fact,

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