The Basics
Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate � �
What is chronic lymphocytic leukemia? " � Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, called "CLL, " � is a type of blood cancer that usually grows very slowly. � �
Blood is made up of different types of cells. These cells are made in the middle of your bones, in a part called the bone marrow. When people have CLL, their bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells. These abnormal blood cells grow out of control, get into the blood, and travel around the body. Sometimes, these cells collect in certain parts of the body. � �
When the bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells, it does not make enough of the normal blood cells a persons body needs. This can cause symptoms. � �
What are the symptoms of CLL? " � CLL does not usually cause symptoms when it is in the early stages, and people might not know that they have it. Many times, people are diagnosed after having routine blood tests. � �
When CLL does cause symptoms, the most common ones are: � �
- Feeling very tired and weak
- Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, under the arm, or in the groin " � Lymph nodes are bean-shaped organs that are part of the body's infection-fighting system.
- Getting sick from infections more easily than normal
- Fevers, drenching sweats at night, and losing weight without trying to
Is there a test for CLL? " � Yes. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you, do an exam, and do blood tests. He or she might also do a bone marrow biopsy. For this test, a doctor takes a very small sample of the bone marrow. Then another doctor will look at the cells under a microscope to see if abnormal (cancer) cells are present. � �
How is CLL treated? " � Doctors can treat CLL in different ways. Sometimes, doctors do not treat CLL right away. Your doctor might not treat your CLL right away if it is slow-growing and not causing any symptoms. But your doctor will watch your CLL closely by doing exams and blood tests until treatment is needed. � �
CLL is usually treated if it is causing symptoms or growing fast. Most patients with CLL are treated with chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the term doctors use to describe a group of medicines that kill cancer cells. There are many different chemotherapy drugs that are used to treat CLL. Your doctor will work with you to choose the ones that are right for you. � �
When people have chemotherapy, they can get sick from infections more easily than normal. Because of this, it's important to wash your hands often and stay away from people who are sick. Let your doctor or nurse know right away if you get a fever. � �
What happens after treatment? " � After treatment, your doctor will check you every so often to see if the cancer comes back. Regular follow-ups include talking with your doctor, exams, and blood tests. Sometimes, your doctor will also do a bone marrow biopsy. � �
What happens if the CLL comes back? " � If the CLL comes back, your doctor will talk with you about other possible treatments. These can include: � �
- Chemotherapy " � You might get the same chemotherapy medicines that you got before, or you might get different ones.
- Bone marrow transplant " � This treatment replaces cells in the bone marrow that are killed by chemotherapy or radiation. These "donor " � cells come from another person whose blood matches yours.
- Surgery to remove an organ called the spleen
- Treatments to reduce symptoms " � For example, your doctor can give you medicines to help reduce the number of infections that you get.
What else should I do? " � It's important to follow all your doctor's instructions about visits and tests. It's also important to talk to your doctor about any side effects or problems you have during treatment. � �
Getting treated for CLL involves making many choices, such as what treatment to have and when. � �
Always let your doctors and nurses know how you feel about a treatment. Any time you are offered a treatment, ask: � �
- What are the benefits of this treatment? Is it likely to help me live longer? Will it reduce or prevent symptoms?
- What are the downsides to this treatment?
- Are there other options besides this treatment?
- What happens if I do not have this treatment?
All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. � �
This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. � �
Topic 15791 Version 5.0 � �
Release: 22.8 - C22.206 � �
� � 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. � �
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