Desire: About six months ago I went to my doctor with a general feeling of unwellness. He did a full blood count and my white cells are very raised as well as the platelet count. Six months later I had it redone and they are still very high. What does this indicate?

Prof Harry: Are you feeling otherwise well?

Desire: Actually, no.

Prof Harry: Then you must never just rely on a blood count. What you have told me is an indication to take the matter further. The first thing that you do is to have a proper history taken. You?ve got to go and sit down with a doctor, start with your GP and if the GP fails to make a diagnosis or is not sure, he must share the responsibility with the right specialist.

Desire: He has sent me to a haematologist.

Prof Harry: That is absolutely correct. What did he tell you?

Desire: He couldn?t find anything; he didn?t know what was wrong. He said come back in six months? time, we?ll have another look. Now it is even worse.

Prof Harry: Then you really must go back to that haematologist and you must say to him I?m not feeling well, you must speak to me very frankly and tell me what are the possible causes. There are various possibilities but this may be a type of increased production of these cells. There are other tests that can be done. And if he won?t do them, you must get somebody else.

Desire: What do your platelets do in your blood?

Prof Harry: The platelets are extremely important. They help to prevent haemorrhage. All the time our blood vessels are being breached and if it weren?t for the platelets, we would be bleeding all the time. And that?s why people who have got low platelets, they complain of bleeding. If you have got too many platelets, then the opposite is the case, then you are more likely to clot.