By Julia Janzen, BS, LPN, CRC
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. The bone marrow, a spongy tissue inside of the bone, is where all blood cells are formed, including white blood cells. It is the white blood cells that are affected by CLL. Specifically, B-cell lymphocytes, which help to fight infection in the body.
CLL causes the lymphocytes to become leukemic which prevents them from maturing. The lymphocytes then do not function properly. Their ability to fight off infection is reduced and they divide faster to create new cells. They also live longer.
Since the leukemic lymphocytes do not mature and die off as they should, they start to accumulate in the bone marrow. Eventually, they begin spilling out into the blood stream. Once in the blood stream, the white blood cell count increases. The leukemic lymphocytes are then free to spread to other organs, particularly the spleen, liver, and lymph nodes, which can cause problems with normal functioning.
Why CLL develops is unknown. It develops very slowly, usually over a matter of years, and many patients do not have symptoms when CLL is first detected. CLL is often found during routine blood work, such as a complete blood count (CBC). Usually, the first inkling is a high white blood cell count. Symptoms that may occur include:
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Fever
- Recurrent infection
- Weight loss
- Decreased appetite
- Early satiety (feeling full early when eating)
CLL most commonly occurs in older adults, over age 60, and more often in men than in women. CLL is most common in the Caucasian race. Your risk for CLL may increase if you have a family history of CLL or other blood and bone marrow cancers.
Agent Orange, used during the Vietnam War, has also been linked to an increased risk of developing CLL.
Treatment for CLL must be determined by your doctor. Multiple tests may be used to determine your diagnosis and stage of the disease. Common treatments include chemotherapy, targeted drug therapy, and bone marrow stem cell transplants. Your doctor can help you to decide what treatment is best for your overall health.
Clinical research trials may also be a treatment option for some patients. There are many CLL research trials available; more can be read about them at www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Some trials involve investigational drugs and some are observational. Observational trials can provide valuable information to researchers on real world approaches that practitioners are taking to treat CLL and how patients are managing the diagnosis.
An observational CLL trial is available in our community through Mid-Illinois Hematology & Oncology Associates, Ltd. Please contact Julia at 309-451-2207, or julia.janzen@mihoaonline.org for more information about this clinical trial opportunity.