Carenotes > Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (Aftercare Instructions)

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is cancer in your blood and bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue inside your bone. Your bone marrow makes the cells found in your blood, including your white blood cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that attack infections from germs called bacteria or viruses. With CLL, bone marrow makes damaged lymphocytes that may build up in your lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Your lymph nodes are small organs made of tissue that fight infection. Your liver and spleen are organs located in your upper abdomen (stomach). Your bone marrow may also stop making enough other cells, such as platelets and red blood cells.
  
  
• Caregivers do not know what causes CLL. Your caregiver uses blood tests and a physical exam to diagnose your CLL. You may have symptoms such as bleeding, bruising, and fever (high body temperature). Your lymph nodes, spleen, and liver may become larger. You may need cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a cell transplant. There is no cure for CLL. Treatment may help your blood cells become normal again and decrease your risk of bleeding or getting infections. Treatment may also help decrease the size of your liver or spleen.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

• Keep a written list of the medicines you take, the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list of your medicines or the pill bottles when you see your caregivers. Learn why you take each medicine. Ask your caregiver for information about your medicine. Do not use any medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, herbs, or food supplements without first talking to caregivers.
  
  
• Always take your medicine as directed by caregivers. Call your caregiver if you think your medicines are not helping or if you feel you are having side effects. Do not quit taking your medicines until you discuss it with your caregiver. If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.

• Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight or prevent an infection caused by bacteria. Always take your antibiotics exactly as ordered by your caregiver. Keep taking this medicine until it is completely gone, even if you feel better. Stopping antibiotics without your caregiver's OK may make the medicine unable to kill all of the germs. Never "save" antibiotics or take leftover antibiotics that were given to you for another illness.
  
  
• Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and control vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to take at home to take away or decrease pain. Your caregiver will tell you how much to take and how often to take it. Take the medicine exactly as directed by your caregiver. Do not wait until the pain is too bad before taking your medicine. The medicine may not work as well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it. Tell caregivers if the pain medicine does not help, or if your pain comes back too soon.
  
  
• Steroids: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease inflammation, which is redness, pain, and swelling.

Ask your caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your next visit.

Your caregiver will check the size of your lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. Tell your caregiver about any new symptoms or side effects from your treatment. You may have blood tests to see how well your treatment is working. A sample of your bone marrow may be sent to a lab for testing. You may also have imaging tests, such as a chest x-ray or an ultrasound. Ask your caregiver for more information about these or other tests that you may need.

• After treatment, your caregiver will see how your body is responding. You may have many different responses. These responses may stay the same (a stable response) or get better or worse. Your caregiver will use your response to help him decide whether you need more treatment, such as chemotherapy. You may respond to treatment in any of the following ways:
  
  
  • Complete remission: If you have a complete remission (response) after treatment, your blood tests become normal again. Your spleen, liver, or lymph nodes will be normal sized. You will not have symptoms such as fatigue or sweating.
    
    
  • Partial remission: You may have a partial response to treatment. During partial remission, you may still have signs and symptoms of CLL. Your body will have fewer damaged lymphocytes than before treatment. Your body may also produce enough red blood cells. Your caregiver may not be able to feel large lymph nodes under your skin. Your liver and spleen may become smaller.
    
    
  • Minimal residual disease: You may have minimal residual disease. This means that you have very few cancer cells left in your body.
    
    
  • Progressive disease: If you have progressive disease, your CLL is getting worse. Your body may not be making enough red blood cells or platelets. Your lymph nodes, spleen, and liver may get larger.
    
    
  • Relapse: You may relapse after having a complete or partial response to treatment. This means that you have signs and symptoms of progressive disease. Your blood tests may become abnormal again. Your lymph nodes, spleen, and liver may get larger.
    
    
  • Refractory disease: Refractory disease means that you do not get better with treatment. You may need other treatments, such as a stem cell transplant.
  
  

Chemotherapy: This medicine, often called chemo, is used to treat cancer. Chemotherapy may be used to shrink lymph nodes that have cancer in them. Many different chemotherapy medicines are used to treat cancer. You may need blood tests often. These blood tests show how your body is doing and how much chemotherapy is needed. Chemotherapy can have many side effects. Caregivers will watch you closely and will work with you to decrease side effects. Chemotherapy may help you feel better or live longer.

Radiation therapy: This is a treatment using x-rays or gamma rays to treat cancer. Radiation kills cancer and keeps the cancer from spreading. It also keeps cancer cells from dividing into new cells, which is one way cancer spreads. Lymph nodes with cancer are also treated with radiation. It may also be given with chemotherapy. Radiation may shrink your lymph nodes and spleen.

Diet: It is important that you get good nutrition when you have cancer. Eat a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups. The food groups include breads, vegetables, fruits, milk and milk products, and protein (beans, eggs, poultry, meat and fish). Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy. You may need to make diet changes depending on your tolerance, the location of your cancer, or treatment side effects. For example, if you have trouble swallowing, try eating foods that are soft or in liquid form. Ask your caregiver if you should add special drinks or vitamins to your diet. Tell your caregiver if you are nauseated, vomiting, or have other problems eating or digesting your food.

Alcohol: Do not drink alcohol. Alcohol can damage your brain, heart, and liver. Almost every part of your body can be harmed by alcohol. Drinking alcohol can also make your illness worse. Talk to your caregiver if you drink alcohol, and ask for information about how to stop.

Quit smoking: It is never too late to quit smoking. Smoking harms the heart, lungs, and the blood. You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke. You will help yourself and those around you by not smoking. Ask your caregiver for more information about how to stop smoking if you are having trouble quitting.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever (high body temperature).
  
  
• You have new bruises or bruises that are getting bigger.
  
  
• You think you have an infection, such as a cough, cold, or flu.
  
  
• Your lymph nodes become painful or more swollen.
  
  
• You are losing weight without trying.
  
  
• You have a new rash.
  
  
• You feel depressed.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your condition, treatment, or care.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have bleeding that does not stop.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing.
  
  
• You have a fast heartbeat or chest pain.
  
  
• You have very bad pain in your abdomen.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Link to Page

Print Page

Email Page