What are the signs and symptoms of Stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
In stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there are too many lymphocytes in the blood, but there are no other signs or symptoms of leukemia. Stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia is indolent (slow-growing).
How is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment can include observation, steroids, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or targeted therapy. Learn more about the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of newly diagnosed or recurrent CLL in this expert-reviewed summary.
What is the prognosis of early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?
In contrast to past experience many patients will present with early-stage asymptomatic CLL. It is clear that patients with early-stage CLL are a heterogenous group; approximately 30-50% will develop progressive disease within a short period of time, while the remainder may live for decades and not require therapy.
What is chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (also called CLL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that usually gets worse slowly.
What does Stage 0 CLL mean?
Stage 0. The blood has too many white blood cells called lymphocytes. This is called lymphocytosis. The other blood counts are close to normal, and there are no other symptoms of leukemia. The cancer is slow growing, and this stage is low risk.
Is Stage 0 CLL a cancer?
It uses stage groupings that have a value of 0 or 1 through 4 using Roman numerals I, II, III, and IV. The higher the number, the more advanced the cancer is. The Rai system then groups CLL into low (stage 0), intermediate (stages I and II), and high (stages III and IV) risk groups.
How long does CLL zero last?
People in stages 0 to II may live for 5 to 20 years without treatment. CLL has a very high incidence rate in people older than 60 years. CLL affects men more than women. If the disease has affected the B cells, the person's life expectancy can range from 10 to 20 years.
What stage does treatment start for CLL?
Stages of CLL and treatment You will usually only start treatment if there are signs the CLL is progressing. Some people with stage B CLL may not need to start treatment straight away. This depends on what signs and symptoms you have. If you have stage C CLL, you usually need treatment soon after being diagnosed.
Does Stage 0 CLL always progress?
Stage 0. The number of red blood cells and platelets are almost normal. Your lymph nodes, spleen, and liver are fine. You're at low risk and probably don't need treatment now.
Can Stage 0 CLL cause fatigue?
If you have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), you may already know the intense fatigue that can be part of life with the condition. Fatigue is normal in people with CLL but it can be frustrating to feel so exhausted all the time. The cancer itself can cause fatigue, or fatigue can be a side effect of some treatments.
Can you live 30 years with CLL?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can rarely be cured. Still, most people live with the disease for many years. Some people with CLL can live for years without treatment, but over time, most will need to be treated.
What should be avoided in CLL?
Your CLL treatment may weaken your immune system and raise your chances of getting foodborne illness. These steps can help keep you safe: Cook meat until it's well-done and eggs until the yolks are hard. Avoid raw sprouts, salad bars, and unpasteurized drinks and cheeses.
What is the newest treatment for CLL?
In May 2019, the FDA approved venetoclax (Venclexta) in combination with obinutuzumab (Gazyva) to treat people with previously untreated CLL as a chemotherapy-free option. In April 2020, the FDA approved a combination therapy of rituximab (Rituxan) and ibrutinib (Imbruvica) for adult patients with chronic CLL.
What percentage of CLL patients need treatment?
Around 30-50% of people diagnosed with CLL never require any treatment for their disease and can survive for many years despite their diagnosis.
Can WBC go down with CLL?
Less often, the antibodies attack platelets and the cells that make them, leading to low platelet counts. Rarely, the antibodies attack white blood cells, leading to leukopenia (low white blood cell counts). These symptoms and signs may be caused by CLL, but they can also be caused by other conditions.
What is stage 0 leukemia?
Stage 0. In stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia, there are too many lymphocytes in the blood, but there are no other signs or symptoms of leukemia . Stage 0 chronic lymphocytic leukemia is indolent (slow-growing).
Where does CLL spread?
In chronic lymphocytic leukemia ( CLL ), the leukemia cells may spread from the blood and bone marrow to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. It is important to know whether the leukemia cells have spread in order to plan the best treatment.
What is the name of the cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (also called CLL) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow that usually gets worse slowly. CLL is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults.
What is BCL2 inhibitor therapy?
BCL2 inhibitor therapy: This treatment blocks a protein called BCL2 which is found on some leukemia cells. This may kill leukemia cells and make them more sensitive to other anticancer drugs. Venetoclax is a type of BCL2 therapy used to treat symptomatic or progressive, recurrent, or refractory CLL.
Why do we do clinical trials?
Clinical trials are done to find out if new cancer treatments are safe and effective or better than the standard treatment.
Can lymphocytic leukemia cause tiredness?
Signs and symptoms of chronic lymphocytic leukemia include swollen lymph nodes and feeling tired. In the beginning, CLL does not cause any signs or symptoms and may be found during a routine blood test. Later, signs and symptoms may occur.
Can you take part in a clinical trial for chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
Treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia may cause side effects. Patients may want to think about taking part in a clinical trial. Patients can enter clinical trials before, during, or after starting their cancer treatment. Follow-up tests may be needed.
What Is CLL?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer that affects a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. When you have it, some blood stem cells in your body don't grow properly and the resulting lymphocytes can't fight infection very well.
How CLL Spreads
This type of leukemia starts in bone marrow -- the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. From there, it moves into your blood. Over time, the cancer cells can spread to other parts of your body like the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes.
How Serious Is It?
The Rai staging system is usually what doctors in the U.S. use. It describes CLL based on the results of blood tests and a physical exam when you're diagnosed. Everyone with CLL will have more lymphocytes in their bone marrow and blood than there should be, for no good reason. And a large number of them will have come from the same cell.
Stage 0
The number of red blood cells and platelets are almost normal. Your lymph nodes, spleen, and liver are fine. You're at low risk and probably don't need treatment now.
Stage I
This stage is intermediate risk. The difference is that your lymph nodes are enlarged. These are part of your immune system. They help fight infections as well as filtering out dead and damaged cells, and they swell when they're working hard.
Stage II
Your spleen or liver is larger than normal. Your lymph nodes might be swollen, too, but not necessarily. This is also an intermediate risk stage, and you'll start treatment if your doctor thinks your symptoms or lymphocyte count are serious.
Stage III
The number of other blood cells are affected. At stage III, you don't have enough red blood cells (a condition called anemia), although your platelet count is near normal. Your lymph nodes, spleen, or liver might be enlarged, but they don't have to be. This is an advanced, high-risk stage, and you'll need treatment.
What is CLL in medical terms?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is slow-growing leukemia that progresses over many years. Many patients in the early stages of CLL do not have any symptoms and do not require immediate treatment. The disease is monitored regularly, and treatment is started when CLL progresses to the intermediate and advanced stages.
What is the spread of CLL?
The spread of CLL is staged based on the enlargement of lymph nodes and other organs, as well as the effect on red blood cells and platelets. All stages of CLL have lymphocytosis or a high lymphocyte count.
What is the best diet for chronic lymphocytic leukemia?
According to recent research, the Mediterranean diet is considered the best diet for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
What is it called when a cell in the bone marrow is mutated?
Leukemia results when the genetic material (DNA) of a single cell in the bone marrow transforms, this is called a mutation. A mutated cell does not perform body function, but it eats away the nutrition meant for the normal cells.
How old is the average person with leukemia?
In adults, leukemia is most common in people older than 55 years, with the average age of diagnosis being 66 years. It is also one of the most common cancers in children and adults younger than 20 years. The survival rate is higher for younger people.
Is leukemia a chronic disease?
Based on how fast it progresses, leukemia is classified as acute or chronic: Acute leukemia: Most of the abnormal blood cells are immature and do not function normally. It progresses very quickly.
Is leukemia curable?
Learn about the common types and stages of leukemia, who gets it, symptoms, tests, treatments, and more. People with blood cancer are living longer than ever, and it may be curable.
What is the best treatment for CLL?
One of the most promising future treatment options for CLL is CAR T-cell therapy. CAR T, which stands for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, uses a person’s own immune system cells to fight cancer.
What is low risk CLL?
Treatments for low-risk CLL. Doctors typically stage CLL using a system called the Rai system. Low-risk CLL describes people who fall in “stage 0” under the Rai system. In stage 0, the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver aren’t enlarged. Red blood cell and platelet counts are also near normal. If you have low-risk CLL, ...
Why are targeted therapies called targeted therapies?
These drugs are called targeted therapies because they’re directed at specific proteins that help CLL cells grow. Examples of targeted drugs for CLL include:
What is CLL in medical terms?
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a slow-growing cancer of the immune system. Because it’s slow-growing, many people with CLL won’t need to start treatment for many years after their diagnosis.
What does it mean when you have a high risk CLL?
High-risk CLL describes patients with stage 3 or stage 4 cancer. This means you may have an enlarged spleen, liver, or lymph nodes. Low red blood cell counts are also common. In the highest stage, platelet counts will be low as well.
What is intermediate risk CLL?
Intermediate-risk CLL describes people with stage 1 to stage 2 CLL, according to the Rai system. People with stage 1 or 2 CLL have enlarged lymph nodes and potentially an enlarged spleen and liver, but close to normal red blood cell and platelet counts. High-risk CLL describes patients with stage 3 or stage 4 cancer.
Why do you need a stem cell transplant?
Stem cell and bone marrow transplants. Your doctor may recommend a stem cell transplant if your cancer doesn’t respond to other treatments. A stem cell transplant allows you to receive higher doses of chemotherapy to kill more cancer cells. Higher doses of chemotherapy can cause damage to your bone marrow.
What is the first treatment for CLL?
Initial treatment of CLL. Many different drugs and drug combinations can be used as the first treatment for CLL. The options include monoclonal antibodies, other targeted drugs, chemotherapy, and different combinations of these. Some of the more commonly used drug treatments include: Other drugs or combinations of drugs may also be used.
What is the rarest complication of CLL?
If this happens, treatment is likely to be similar to that used for patients with ALL. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is another rare complication in patients who have been treated for CLL.
What is the most serious type of CLL?
One of the most serious complications of CLL is a change (transformation) of the leukemia to a high-grade or aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) or to Hodgkin lymphoma. This happens in 2% to 10% of CLL cases, and is known as Richter's transformation. Treatment is often the same as it would be ...
How long does it take for chemo to lower blood count?
Chemo may not lower the number of cells until a few days after the first dose, so before the chemo is given, some of the cells may need to be removed from the blood with a procedure called leukapheresis. This treatment lowers blood counts right away.
What happens if the first line of treatment is not working?
If the initial treatment is no longer working or the disease comes back, another type of treatment often helps . If the initial response to the treatment lasted a long time (usually at least a few years), the same treatment might be used again. If the initial response wasn't long-lasting, using the same treatment isn't as likely to be helpful. The options will depend on what the first-line treatment was and how well it worked, as well as the person's overall health.
What is the FCR for Venetoclax?
Bendamustine and rituximab (or another monoclonal antibody) High-dose prednisone and rituximab. FCR: fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. PCR: pentostatin, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. Chlorambucil and rituximab (or another monoclonal antibody) Obinutuzumab.
Does leukemia treatment work before chemo?
This treatment lowers blood counts right away. The effect lasts only for a short time, but it may help until the chemo has a chance to work. Leukapheresis is also sometimes used before chemo if there are very high numbers of leukemia cells (even when they aren’t causing problems) to prevent tumor lysis syndrome.
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Rate
The survival rate for CLL is better than for many other types of cancer. Data compiled by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) from 2011 to 2017 indicate that the five-year relative survival rate for CLL is 87.2%. 4 NCI data for that same time frame show a decline in the new case rate and death rate for CLL.
Factors That Influence Outlook
No two people are alike. Your CLL prognosis will vary from that of other people with this condition. Age, overall health, and response to treatment can all have an impact on your outlook and what you can expect.
Is a Cure for CLL in Sight?
There is currently no cure on the horizon for CLL. Research is ongoing and continues to prolong survival and improve the quality of life for people with this condition.
Coping and Support for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Receiving a diagnosis of CLL can be scary and upsetting. People with early-stage disease who are watching and waiting may find it stressful to not pursue treatment. 17
Summary
CLL is a slow-growing cancer. It is possible to have this condition for many years before you start to show symptoms. The prognosis for CLL is much higher than for many other types of cancer. However, there is currently no cure for this disease. CLL has a five-year survival rate of around 83%, although it drops under 70% in those over 75.
A Word From Verywell
Finding out that you or a loved one has CLL may take your breath away. It can be overwhelming to learn you have an incurable condition. It may sound cliché, but incurable and untreatable are not the same thing.
