what-is-hairy-cell-leukemia : Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Hairy cell leukemia is a rare, slow-growing cancer of the blood in which your bone marrow makes too many B cells (lymphocytes), a type of white blood cell that fights infection.

What are the Symptoms of hairy cell leukemia?

The symptoms of hairy cell leukemia develop slowly and are similar to those of other types of leukemia. They include:-

•  unintentional weight loss 

• pale skin
• weakness, tiredness and breathlessness
• frequent infections
• bleeding or bruising easily
• pain or swelling in your abdomen (tummy) (see below)

The abnormal white blood cells can accumulate in your spleen, causing it to increase in size. The spleen is an organ in the upper left side of your abdomen, behind your stomach and ribs.

If your spleen is enlarged, it's likely you'll have a painful lump on the left side of your abdomen. If this is the case, you should visit your GP so the lump can be examined.

An enlarged spleen may remove normal blood cells from your bloodstream. This can lead to a further reduction in the number of normal red and white blood cells and platelets in your blood.

When to Call Your Doctor?

If you have HCL, it is important to keep an eye out for symptoms that the cancer is progressing. Call your doctor if you generally don’t feel well or if you have any of the following:

• a lot of bleeding
• an infection
• a persistent fever
• a persistent cough

These may suggest that your white blood cell count is low. Proper care and timely treatment are crucial for your health.

How Is Hairy Cell Leukemia Diagnosed?

Your doctor may suspect HCL based on your symptoms or if signs of the disease are present during a physical exam. Tests your doctor may perform to reach a diagnosis include the following:

• A CT scan takes detailed images of your body and allows your doctor to view certain organs, such as the spleen or liver, which can be swollen if you have HCL.
• A complete blood count is a measure of the amount of white and red blood cells and platelets in your blood.
• A peripheral blood smear is a test in which your blood is viewed under a microscope to look for hairy cells.
• If you have a bone marrow biopsy, your doctor will remove a small sample of your bone marrow using a hollow needle. The sample will be viewed under a microscope for signs of cancer.
• A sample of your blood cells or bone marrow may be examined under a microscope for certain markers, such as protein patterns, that are found on the surface of HCL cells. This is called immunophenotyping.

How Is Hairy Cell Leukemia Treated?

Treatment will vary depending on the number of hairy cells and healthy cells in your blood and bone marrow, and whether you exhibit certain symptoms, such as a swollen or infected spleen. While some treatments may relieve and manage symptoms, none are known to cure it completely. You may need treatment if you’re normal blood cell counts are low, your spleen is swollen, or if you have an infection.

Common treatments include:

• blood transfusions to increase blood count
• chemotherapy treatments to kill abnormal cells
• surgery to remove a swollen spleen
• antibiotics to cure infection

If your HCL isn’t progressing and if you don’t have symptoms, your condition should be monitored but it may not require immediate treatment.