Whether you have just been diagnosed with CLL and have only one or two sets of lab results or you were diagnosed years ago and have pages and pages of lab results, you may want to consider a system that will help you to organize all this information, as well as to be able to easily keep track of important trends in your lab reports.
Remember that in CLL one single report is never as telling as the overall trend.
We have created an Excel spreadsheet that will serve as a consolidated document for your lab results. Each lab test includes a brief description about the test, just click the question mark to see it, then click anywhere else to make it disappear. Below the question mark, you will see the average range of normal values for each lab test. The range for each specific lab may vary slightly, so feel free to change them if your lab uses different ranges. We’ve included hyperlinked arrows that will allow you to easily switch between the different pages, or you can select the tabs at the bottom. The different pages or worksheets include CBC, Blood Chemistries, and Immunoglobulins. To help visualize the trends in your blood counts, the values you enter on the CBC chart will be automatically plotted on a graph in the CBC Chart Tab. Another big PLUS is that you can print these tables and charts and take them along when you visit your doctor.
Feel free to download this template and use it to keep track of your lab values.
Though we are not in the business of recommending software, for those without access to MS Excel there are free options for compatible spreadsheets online such as OPEN OFFICE and others.
How to use the Keeping Track Patient Records Spreadsheet
Opening Page
This spreadsheet will help you to keep track of your lab results. Select the arrow corresponding to the section you want to access (or you can select the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet).
CBC Information
Enter your name (John Smith in this example), the date and your lab results in the boxes below each label. You can click on the “?” below each label to find out more information. The Absolute Lymphocytes and Absolute Neutrophils will be automatically calculated based on the value in the WBC field and the % Lymphs or % Neuts fields. Add notes about treatments, dosages, side effects or any other pertinent information. You can print this spreadsheet to take to your appointments.
Data from the red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), platelets, absolute lymphocytes and absolute neutrophils will be automatically charted in the Charts Field. You can view them by clicking on the Charts arrow, or the tab labeled charts at the bottom of the spreadsheet.
CBC Charts
The information from the CBC Values sheet is automatically charted here. Your name is automatically populated on each chart. You can print these charts (red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), platelets, absolute lymphocytes and absolute neutrophils) as well.
Blood Chemistries and Immunoglobulins
Enter the date and the blood chemistry values and immunoglobulin values. Use the arrows to navigate between screens.
Written by Betsy Dennison 3/8/15