Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia - Symptoms & Treatment
Overview
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is common leukemia in adults. It is a type of cancer lymphocytes. People with CLL may have very high white blood cell count numbers of lymphocytes (lymphocytosis), but they fight infection the way normal white blood cells do.
Risk Factors
A risk factor is anything that increases a person’s chance of developing cancer. Although risk factors often influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer.
Signs and Symptoms
Many people don’t have any symptoms for at least a few years, when it is diagnosed as CLL. Leukemia is often found when their doctor orders blood tests for some unrelated health problem or during a routine check-up and they are found to have a high number of lymphocytes.
Diagnosis
- Certain signs and symptoms might suggest that a person has chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but tests are needed to confirm.
Treatment
Because CLL often grows slowly, not everyone needs to be treated right away. When treatment is needed, the main treatments used are:
- Chemotherapy
- Monoclonal Antibodies
- Targeted Therapy
FAQ
- What is CLL?
- Where are the CLL cells in my body?
- How is CLL diagnosed?
- What causes CLL?
- Is there anything that increases the risk of getting CLL?
