what-is-chronic-lymphocytic : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that starts from cells that become certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes) in the bone marrow. The cancer (leukemia) cells start in the bone marrow but then go into the blood.

In CLL, the leukemia cells often build up slowly over time, and many people don't have any symptoms for at least a few years. In time, the cells can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen.

What are the symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukemia?

Many people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia have no early symptoms. Those who do develop signs and symptoms may experience:

• Enlarged, but painless, lymph nodes
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Pain in the upper left portion of the abdomen, which may be caused by an     enlarged spleen
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Frequent infections

What are the causes of chronic lymphocytic leukemia?

 In most cases, doctors don't know what causes CLL. You're more likely to get it if:-

• You have a parent, sibling, or child who has CLL.
• You're middle-aged or older.
• You're a white man.
• You have relatives who are either Eastern European or Russian Jews.

What are the Risk factors?

Factors that may increase the risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia include:

• Your age. Most people diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia are older than 60.
• Your race. Whites are more likely to develop chronic lymphocytic leukemia than are people of other races.
• Family history of blood and bone marrow cancers. A family history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia or other blood and bone marrow cancers may increase your risk.
• Exposure to chemicals. Certain herbicides and insecticides, including Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War, have been linked to an increased risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

How chronic lymphocytic leukemia diagnosed?

Blood tests

Tests and procedures used to diagnose chronic lymphocytic leukemia include blood tests designed to:

Count the number of cells in a blood sample. A complete blood count may be used to count the number of lymphocytes in a blood sample.

Determine the type of lymphocytes involved. A test called flow cytometry or immunophenotyping helps determine whether an increased number of lymphocytes are due to chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a different blood disorder or your body's reaction to another process, such as infection.

Analyze lymphocytes for genetic abnormalities. A test called fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) examines the chromosomes inside the abnormal lymphocytes to look for abnormalities.

Other tests

In some cases, your doctor may order additional tests and procedures to aid in diagnosis, such as:

• Tests of your leukemia cells that look for characteristics that could affect your prognosis
• Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration
• Imaging tests, such as computerized tomography (CT)

What are treatments for chronic lymphocytic leukemia?

If you have early stage CLL, you probably don't need treatment. Studies show that it doesn't help, as with some other cancers.

Even so, you should keep up with all your doctor visits. Your doctor will closely check to make sure your condition hasn't changed.

You may start treatment if your doctor notices a change, like the number of lymphocytes in your blood growing quickly, a decline in the number of your red blood cells, or swelling in a lymph node gets bigger.

Your treatment may include:

Chemotherapy. You may get this by pill, shot, or IV. Doctors often combine two or more drugs that work in different ways to kill the cancer cells.

Immunotherapy. These drugs prompt your body's immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. You often get it along with chemotherapy.

Radiation therapy. This type of treatment uses high-energy rays, such as X-rays, to destroy cancer cells. You probably won't need it, unless your doctor recommends it to shrink swelling in a lymph node, in your spleen, or in another organ that's causing pain.

Targeted therapy. These medicines block proteins that cancer cells use to survive and spread.

Surgery. It's rare, but if chemotherapy or radiation doesn't reduce an enlarged spleen, doctors recommend surgery to take it out.