Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Summary Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells. White blood cells help your body fight infection. Your blood cells form in your bone marrow. In leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells. These cells crowd out the healthy blood cells, making it hard for blood to do its work. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), there are too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell. CLL is the second most common type of leukemia in adults. It often occurs during or after middle age, and is rare in children. Usually CLL does not cause any symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include Painless swelling of the lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin Fatigue Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs Fever and infection Weight loss Tests that examine the blood, bone marrow, and lymph nodes diagnose CLL. Your doctor may choose to just monitor you until symptoms appear or change. Treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery to remove the spleen, and targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses substances that attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. NIH: National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute Array After chemotherapy – discharge B-cell leukemia/lymphoma panel Bone marrow transplant Bone marrow transplant – discharge Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) Find an Expert American Cancer Society American Cancer Society Find a Cancer Doctor American Society of Clinical Oncology Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Leukemia & Lymphoma Society National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute NCI Designated Cancer Centers National Cancer Institute Encyclopedia B and T cell screen Bone marrow biopsy Bone-marrow transplant – slideshow Cryoglobulins Fibrinopeptide A blood test Immunoelectrophoresis – blood Diagnosis and Tests Beta-2 Microglobulin Tumor Marker American Association for Clinical Chemistry Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy American Association for Clinical Chemistry How Is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Diagnosed? American Cancer Society Lab and Imaging Tests Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MedlinePlus: Blood Count Tests National Library of Medicine Stages of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia National Cancer Institute What Are Bone Marrow Tests? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Treatments and Therapies Blood Transfusion Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Choosing a Blood Cancer Specialist Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Immunotherapy Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Integrative Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Therapies Leukemia & Lymphoma Society MedlinePlus: Bone Marrow Transplantation National Library of Medicine Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia by Risk Group American Cancer Society Treatment Option Overview (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) National Cancer Institute Treatment Options by Stage (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) National Cancer Institute Understanding Side Effects of Drug Therapy Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Statistics and Research Cancer Statistics: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia National Cancer Institute What Are the Key Statistics for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society What’s New in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research and Treatment? American Cancer Society NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Cancer Strikes Out!/Definitions/ Glossary/ Common Types Related Issues Chronic B-Cell Leukemias and Agent Orange Department of Veterans Affairs What Should You Ask Your Doctor about Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society Specifics Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (CLL/SLL) Lymphoma Research Foundation Leukemia – B-Cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia and Hairy Cell Leukemia American Society of Clinical Oncology Leukemia — Chronic T-Cell Lymphocytic American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Leukemia, Lymphoid National Institutes of Health Types of Treatment: Clinical Trials Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Genetics Do We Know What Causes Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society Latest News FDA Approves New Drug for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Patients with a Specific Chromosomal Abnormality Food and Drug Administration Start Here General Information about Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia National Cancer Institute What Is Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society What You Need to Know about Leukemia National Cancer Institute Seniors Leukemia National Cancer Institute Journal Articles Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Living With Supportive Care for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia American Cancer Society Patient Handouts Understanding Chemotherapy National Cancer Institute What to Know about External Beam Radiation Therapy National Cancer Institute Prevention and Risk Factors What Are the Risk Factors for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia? American Cancer Society
