Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Newly Diagnosed?
We Can Help

Information for those newly diagnosed with leukemia

If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center is ready to help. Our experienced team of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who treat CLL is dedicated to providing the highest-quality treatment and care for patients with this disease. Our patients also have access to innovative therapies through our clinical trials.

Overview
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is one of the most common forms of leukemia in adults.
Risk Factors
Risk factors for developing CLL can include inherited, or genetic, traits and exposure to cancer-causing agents in the environment. There is only a very small chance that a person who has one of the few known risk factors for CLL will develop the disease.
Symptoms
When CLL first develops, patients may not have any symptoms, and this phase may last for several years. CLL is often discovered when people with the disease have routine blood tests during a regular checkup.
Diagnosis
Physicians perform an array of tests to diagnose CLL and determine both its type and subtype.
Classification
Physicians designate CLL patients as low risk (stage 0), intermediate risk (stages I and II), or high risk (stages III and IV).
Treatment
Physicians devise a course of treatment for each CLL patient based on the stage and symptoms of the disease and the patient's age and overall health.
Follow-Up Care
People with CLL are likely to see their physician often to monitor whether or not the disease is progressing.

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