Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL)

Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a slowly progressive cancer of the blood and bone marrow with proliferation of B cells. CLL is a disease in which abnormal lymphocytes slowly build up. The extra lymphocytes crowd out normal cells, impairing the body's capacity to fight infections and make healthy blood cells. It is one of the most frequent leukaemias in adults and is rare in children.

In the early stages, many individuals with CLL may not have symptoms, and the condition is often discovered during routine blood tests.  Diagnosis includes full blood counts, inspection of the peripheral blood smear, flow cytometry, bone marrow assessment and genetic or molecular testing to define disease characteristics and prognosis. Treatment will depend on the stage and severity of the illness. In some patients, diligent surveillance is all that is needed, while others may derive benefit from targeted therapy, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or, in chosen cases, stem cell transplantation.
Regular medical follow-up is crucial for assessment of disease progression and response to treatment.