Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? Chronic lymphocytic (lim-fuh-sih-tik) leukemia (lew-kee-mee-uh) is also called CLL. It is cancer of the white blood cells (WBC). It is the most common leukemia in the United States. Your body makes more WBCs when fighting infections and diseases. They are part of the immune (ih-mewn) system and are made in the bone marrow. Lymphocytes (lim-fuh-sites) are small white blood cells. CLL is a kind of cancer that happens when more lymphocytes are made than the body needs. There are two kinds of lymphocytes, B cells and T cells. CLL usually affects the B cell lymphocytes. These CLL lymphocytes do not work normally in the body.

Causes: There is no known cause, but you cannot catch CLL from someone else who has it. But there are things that put you at higher risk for getting leukemia. You are more likely to get CLL if you have someone in your family with CLL. Also, you are at a higher risk for CLL if you are over 50 years of age.

Signs and Symptoms: During the early stages of CLL there are not usually any symptoms. This cancer may be found when you have your blood drawn for other reasons. Having too many lymphocytes in other areas of the body cause symptoms in later stages. Some of those areas are the bone marrow, spleen, liver and lymph nodes. With time, you may have some, or all of the following symptoms.

• Anemia (have too few red blood cells). This may cause you to feel short of breath.
  
  
• Bleeding more easily than you used to.
  
  
• Feeling more and more tired and less able to exercise.
  
  
• Lymph nodes may be large, especially in your neck, around your collarbone, and in your armpits. Your spleen or liver is larger than normal. This may cause you to have abdominal (belly) pain or discomfort.
  
  
• More infections or infections that last longer.
  
  
• Sweating a lot, or have night sweats.
  
  
• Weight loss.

Care: There is no cure for CLL. But, many people live for years without symptoms and without the need for treatment. At first, you will probably be seen in a clinic or caregiver's office. But later, you might need to go into the hospital for tests and treatment. You may need to see your caregiver often. Ask your caregiver for information about CLL to help you understand about the different tests and treatments.

• Your caregiver will first do tests to find out the exact kind of leukemia. Caregivers will then do tests to find out what stage the cancer is in. Staging includes finding out how much cancer you have and if it has spread to other parts of your body. The results of the tests will help you and your caregiver decide on a treatment plan. You may not need to be treated right away. But, you will be watched closely and begin treatment when you start to have symptoms.
  
  
• In the meantime, you should eat a healthy diet, exercise, and get plenty of rest. You should also visit your caregiver regularly. When it is time for treatment, you and your caregiver will decide what is best for you. You may need to take anticancer or steroid medicines. You may also need radiation or surgery. Often two or more kinds of treatment will be used together such as medicine and radiation. Or, you may choose medicine and surgery to treat your CLL.

Support: Accepting that you have cancer is hard. You and those close to you may feel scared, depressed, angry, or sad. These are normal feelings. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings and let them help you. You may also want to join a cancer support group. This is a group of people who also have CLL. For more information, call or write the following organizations.

• American Cancer Society
  Phone: 1-800-227-2345
  Web Address: http://www.cancer.org
  

• National Cancer Institute
  Phone: 1-800-422-6237
  Web Address: http://www.cancer.gov
  

• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Inc.
  1311 Mamaroneck Avenue
  White Plains, NY 10605
  Phone: 1-914-949-5213
  Phone: 1-800-955-4572
  Web Address: http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
  

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Link to this page

Printable Version

Email Page