Chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, is a form of leukemia that can be successfully treated depending on how far the condition has advanced when it is diagnosed. To diagnose CLL, a doctor will test the blood and bone marrow. An imaging test such as a CT scan may also be used to try to determine how far the condition has spread.
Description
CLL is a cancer that affects the bone marrow as it produces lymphocytes, the white blood cells that fight disease and infection. Because it is a chronic condition, it tends to develop at a slower pace than other forms of leukemia. The National Cancer Institute estimates that about 15,000 people per year in the United States are diagnosed with CLL.
Symptoms
People with CLL may show no early symptoms at all, or symptoms that start out mild and slowly get worse. Some of these symptoms include swollen lymph nodes (experienced as painless lumps that appear on the body); unexplained weight loss; excessive sweating, especially at night; a general feeling of fatigue; and a persistent fever that recurs more frequently as the condition advances.
Progression
As CLL progresses, the symptoms do not necessarily change, but they become more severe and uncomfortable. The fevers become much more frequent and are accompanied by other infections, such as lung infections that can affect breathing. Eating even the slightest amount of food can make a sufferer feel completely full; this will trigger rapid weight loss. The liver or spleen may start to become inflamed, which will cause warm and tender areas on the back.
Treatment
In some cases, a doctor may only monitor the CLL and choose to not treat it unless it becomes worse. According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly 33% of all cases of CLL go untreated because treatment is not necessary. Sufferers are advised to make lifestyle changes and are prescribed medications to deal with the symptoms, but the CLL itself never advances. To treat progressive CLL, a doctor may use chemotherapy, radiation treatment or some combination of the two. In more extreme cases, a bone marrow transplant may be necessary.
Risk Factors
The National Cancer Institute lists age and family history as two of the major risk factors for CLL. Middle-aged white males are at a higher risk than any other group, and people with a family history of CLL are also at high risk. With family history, it does not need to be a history specific to CLL; any form of lymph cancer puts a person at risk.
Tags: bone marrow, family history, Cancer Institute, National Cancer, National Cancer Institute
