Focusing on the Blood Count is Sometimes More Sign...
Leukemia (CLL)
Focusing on the Blood Count is Sometimes More Significant Than the Stage in CLL
Because a blood cancer is a disease that spreads throughout the body, the staging system for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is very different from solid tumor cancers. Once the CLL diagnosis is determined, doctors focus on the blood count to gauge how advanced the disease is and when treatment is necessary. Specifically they look at the abnormal increase in the number of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) in the blood and marrow.
“It’s sometimes very confusing to patients,” says Dr. Nicole Lamanna, a leukemia specialist at Columbia University School of Medicine, because often treatment is not required for many years.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Because a blood cancer is a disease that spreads throughout the body, the staging system for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is very different from solid tumor cancers. Once the CLL diagnosis is determined, doctors focus on the blood count to gauge how advanced the disease is and when treatment is necessary. Specifically they look at the abnormal increase in the number of lymphocytes (a type of white blood cells) in the blood and marrow.
“It’s sometimes very confusing to patients,” says Dr. Nicole Lamanna, a leukemia specialist at Columbia University School of Medicine, because often treatment is not required for many years.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
Symptoms & Diagnosis: Finding CLL
Symptoms & Diagnosis: What Happens Next?
Whether you require treatment for CLL will depend on your blood count, and how quickly the disease is growing. In this series, leading doctors explain how they monitor CLL and the different types of blood cancer.
Symptoms & Diagnosis: Understanding Leukemia
Whether you require treatment for CLL will depend on your blood count, and how quickly the disease is growing. In this series, leading doctors explain how they monitor CLL and the different types of blood cancer.