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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is cancer in your blood and bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft, spongy tissue inside your bone. Your bone marrow makes the cells found in your blood, including your white blood cells. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that attack infections from germs called bacteria or viruses. With CLL, bone marrow makes damaged lymphocytes that may build up in your lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. Your lymph nodes are small organs made of tissue that fight infection. Your liver and spleen are organs located in your upper abdomen (stomach). Your bone marrow may also stop making enough other cells, such as platelets and red blood cells.
- Caregivers do not know what causes CLL. Your caregiver uses blood tests and a physical exam to diagnose your CLL. You may have symptoms such as bleeding, bruising, and fever (high body temperature). Your lymph nodes, spleen, and liver may become larger. You may need cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a cell transplant. There is no cure for CLL. Treatment may help your blood cells become normal again and decrease your risk of bleeding or getting infections. Treatment may also help decrease the size of your liver or spleen.
Take your medicine as directed:
Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.
- Antibiotics: This medicine is given to fight or prevent an infection caused by bacteria. Always take your antibiotics exactly as ordered by your primary healthcare provider. Do not stop taking your medicine unless directed by your primary healthcare provider. Never save antibiotics or take leftover antibiotics that were given to you for another illness.
- Antinausea medicine: This medicine may be given to calm your stomach and prevent vomiting.
- Pain medicine: You may need medicine to take away or decrease pain.
- Learn how to take your medicine. Ask what medicine and how much you should take. Be sure you know how, when, and how often to take it.
- Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease.
- Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help.
- Steroids: This medicine may be given to decrease inflammation.
Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:
For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.Your caregiver will check the size of your lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. Tell your caregiver about any new symptoms or side effects from your treatment. You may have blood tests to see how well your treatment is working. A sample of your bone marrow may be sent to a lab for testing. You may also have imaging tests, such as a chest x-ray or an ultrasound. Ask your caregiver for more information about these or other tests that you may need.
- After treatment, your caregiver will see how your body is responding. You may have many different responses. These responses may stay the same (a stable response) or get better or worse. Your caregiver will use your response to help him decide whether you need more treatment, such as chemotherapy. You may respond to treatment in any of the following ways:
- Complete remission: If you have a complete remission (response) after treatment, your blood tests become normal again. Your spleen, liver, or lymph nodes will be normal sized. You will not have symptoms such as fatigue or sweating.
- Partial remission: You may have a partial response to treatment. During p