Download Understanding Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)

UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKAEMIA (CLL)
T Lymphocyte
Stem Cell
Lymphoid Stem Cell
CLL is when too many under-developed lymphocytes are produced,
building to cause large, swollen lymph nodes3. In time they fill up the
bone marrow and this reduces the production of healthy blood cells.
Symptoms
The lymphatic system is part of the
immune system. It has two main roles:
• Protecting the body from infection
of all
cases4
B Lymphocyte
CLL affects
these B Cells
In CLL it is the B lymphocyte white blood cells that are cancerous3.
Abdominal
discomfort
Swollen lymph glands in
the neck, armpits or groin
Weight loss
6
THE MEDIAN AGE
AT DIAGNOSIS IS
CLL IS
TWICE AS
72
COMMON IN
MEN
AS IT IS IN
WOMEN
3
AND NEARLY 70% OF
PATIENTS ARE DIAGNOSED
AT AGE 65 OR OLDER 7,8
Causes
The main causes of CLL are
unknown, but research is
going on to find out more.
There are two trillion
lymphocytes in the body 2
Tiredness
Breathlessness
50%
Fever and
night sweats
Bruising
and
bleeding
more easily 10
MANY PEOPLE
of cases are diagnosed
because the patient
has a routine blood test
for something else11
WILL NOT HAVE
ANY SYMPTOMS
AT ALL
Treatments
Treatment decisions will be made taking the
following factors into account:
• How far the leukaemia has developed
• The patient’s age
• The patient’s general health and fitness12
Chemotherapy and chemoimmunotherapy
(i.e. chemotherapy in combination with
a monoclonal antibody) is the main
treatment for CLL
Other treatment options include:
Infections that may be more severe and take longer to clear
RADIOTHERAPY
Headaches
A network of lymphatic vessels connects
lymph nodes around the body.
Circulating around these vessels is a liquid
called ‘lymph’ which contains lymphocytes
(white blood cells essential to the body’s
defence against infection and disease).
LYMPHOID MALIGNANCY
IN WESTERN COUNTRIES 5
IN
Factors that have been
shown to increase
Family
the risk include:
History
• Draining fluid from the body’s tissues 1
It is made up of organs such
as the bone marrow, thymus,
spleen and lymph nodes
1 200
GETTING CLL IS ABOUT
accounting for about
1/3
THE MOST PREVALENT
LIFETIME RISK OF
The most common
type of leukaemia,
Lymphoid Blast
Leukaemia occurs when abnormal white blood cells are produced whilst
blood is being created in the bone marrow. The white blood cells do not
fully develop; so do not provide the immunity offered by healthy cells3.
The Lymphatic System
AN AVERAGE PERSON’S
Prevalence of CLL
Low immunity due to HIV/AIDS or
medicines following an organ transplant
Other possible risk factors:
• Having suffered from pneumonia,
sinusitis, shingles, auto immune
haemolytic anaemia, inflamed
prostate
• Being overweight
• Radiation exposure
• Certain hair dyes9
MONOCLONAL
ANTIBODIES
STEROIDS
WATCHFUL
WAITING13
STEM CELL
TRANSPLANT
Although patients cannot be transplanted
after certain treatment regimes
References: 1. Cancer Research UK. The Lymphatic System. Available at: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/what-iscancer/body/the-lymphatic-system Accessed October 2013. 2. Alberts, B, et al. (2002). Molecular Biology of the Cell. Fourth Edition. New York and London: Garland Science section V-24. 8.
3. Cancer Research UK. About Chronic Lymphoctic Leukaemia (CLL). Available at: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/prod_consump/groups/cr_common/@cah/@gen/documents/generalcontent/about-cll.pdf Accessed October 2013. 4. Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. More about Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia. Available
at: https://leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk/information/leukaemia/chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia/more-about-disease?page=3 Accessed October 2013. 5. Molica, S et al. Treatment of Elderly Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Available at: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/810687 Accessed October 2013.
6. American Cancer Society. What are the key statistics for chronic lymphocytic leukemia? Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/leukemia-chroniclymphocyticcll/detailedguide/leukemia-chronic-lymphocytic-key-statistics Accessed October 2013. 7. Howlader N, et al. SEER data 2008. Available at: http://seer.cancer.gov/
archive/csr/1975_2008/ 8. SEER Stat Fact Sheets: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. Accessed October 2010. 9. Cancer Research UK. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) risks and causes. Available at: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/cll/about/chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia-risks-and-causes Accessed
October 2013. 10. Macmillan Cancer Support. Symtoms of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Available at: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Leukaemiachroniclymphocytic/Symptomsdiagnosis/Symptoms.aspx Accessed October 2013. 11. Cancer Research UK. Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
symptoms. Available at: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerhelp/type/cll/about/chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia-symptoms Accessed October 2013. 12. Cancer Research UK. Types of treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Available at: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/cll/treatment/whichtreatment-for-chronic-lymphocytic-leukaemia Accessed October 2013. 13. Macmillan Cancer Support. Treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Available at: http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertypes/Leukaemiachroniclymphocytic/TreatingCLL/Treatmentoverview.aspx Accessed October 2013.
Date of Preparation November 2013. MINT/BE-13002c
What is CLL?