White blood cell (WBC) counts can vary greatly in leukemia, but generally, they are elevated compared to normal levels.
Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood-forming tissues of the body, specifically the bone marrow. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that don't function properly and can crowd out healthy blood cells.
The level of WBC elevation can vary depending on the type of leukemia and the stage of the disease. Some types of leukemia, like chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), may have only a slightly elevated WBC count, while others, like acute myeloid leukemia (AML), can have extremely high counts.
A high WBC count in leukemia is a sign that the disease is active and that the body is producing a large number of abnormal white blood cells.
It is important to note that a high WBC count alone is not always indicative of leukemia. Other conditions can also cause elevated WBC counts. Therefore, a doctor will need to perform further tests to diagnose leukemia.