Overview
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia often progresses very slowly, causing no symptoms for some time in many people. Treatment depends on the stage of the disease and symptoms present. For early stage disease where no symptoms are present, observation alone is often recommended.
If the disease progresses, chemotherapy using a variety of agents may be recommended. General indications for treatment include bulky lymph nodes, anemia, a low platelet count, or a transformation to a more aggressive form of disease such as large cell lymphoma. Some patients may have something called self-destruction of platelets. This is another indication for treatment.
Drugs that might be used to treat CLL are listed at the bottom of the page. Click on the drug(s) you will be receiving to get more information.
Treatment Decisions
Making treatment decisions will take place over time, as the disease progresses or becomes more symptomatic. Generally, the doctor will discuss all appropriate options and together, the doctor and patient will arrive at a course of treatment that best meets the patient's needs.
Clinical Trials
Many leukemia patients are asked to participate in a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a research program that attempts to find better treatments. A Phase I clinical trial aims to find the safest way to give a new treatment. Patients are watched closely for side effects. Once the Phase I trial is completed, the new treatment may be evaluated in a Phase II clinical trial. At this stage the doctors are looking for anti-cancer activity, as well as side effects. After that, a Phase III clinical trial will compare the new treatment to a standard treatment, randomly assigning patients to either group. Patients may be offered the chance to take part in any of the three types of trials. Some people worry that they will receive only a placebo, such as an ineffective sugar pill, in a clinical trial, but that is very rarely done in cancer treatment clinical trials. Patients are not required to take part in clinical trials. Those who choose to, however, may gain satisfaction from helping to evaluate new treatments, and may also have access to therapies that are not yet available to the general public. Patients may leave a clinical trial at any time, for any reason. Your doctor will explain why you may or may not be a candidate for a clinical trial.
For a listing of current clinical trials, see Clinical Trials.gov as well the clinical trials listing at this web site and other comprehensive or clinical NCI-designated cancer center websites.
During Treatment
Depending of which treatment your doctor recommends, you may or may not need hospitalization.
Resuming Activities
You may be limited in your activities during treatment. Ask your doctor or nurse what to expect.
