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Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Injury Settlements

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Leukemia is a condition that occurs when your bone marrow produces abnormal cells that block healthy ones. It is usually caused by lymphocytes, white cells.

Your doctor may diagnose chronic lymphocytic lukemia through a physical exam, health history and tests that test your bone marrow as well as your blood. These include a CBC and a blood cell difference.

Causes

CLL occurs when normal lymphocytes, also known as white blood cells, begin to multiply and grow out of control. These abnormal lymphocytes could crowd out healthy blood cells, and can hinder the creation of new blood cells. It's one of the most common types of leukemia that affects adults.

Doctors aren't aware of the causes of CLL. They do know that mutations in the DNA of the blood-producing cells of patients can lead to CLL. The mutations can trigger genes that stimulate cell growth and cause cells to grow faster than they should.

The lymphocytes that are cancerous may spread to other parts like the spleen, liver or bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. This type of cancer is not so dangerous as other types of leukemia, which are more mature and are more difficult to treat.

As you age, your chance of developing CLL increases. The risk increases when you have a family history of cancers that affect the bone marrow or blood. Other risk factors include being white and having a previous history of certain chemicals. For instance, the herbicide Agent Orange used during the Vietnam War is linked to an increased risk of CLL.

Symptoms

Cancers that affect white blood cells, also known as lymphocytes (which fight infection) are known as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL). The cancerous cells build up and grow in the bone blood, marrow and other tissues. This causes a clogging of healthy cells and hinders the body's functions to function correctly.

This type of leukemia grows slowly and initially does cause symptoms. As time passes, cancer cells may multiply enough to show up in a bone marrow smear. It's possible that the cancer may be transformed into a more severe leukemia called diffuse large B lymphoma (or Richter's Syndrome).

It's not clear what causes this cancer but certain risk factors are identified. Age (CLL is more prevalent in older people) Family history of bone marrow tumors, as well as exposures to certain chemicals such as Agent Orange, used during the Vietnam War, are all risk factors. The race of the patient is also a factor. Whites are more prone to this kind of leukemia.

Diagnosis

The first step is getting an analysis of blood. The results will help doctors decide the next step.

The doctor might also recommend tests to determine if the cancer has spread. To confirm this, they may perform an spinal puncture (spinal tap). The health professional inserts an needle into the spinal cord to drain fluid. This test is performed to look for leukemia within the fluid around the brain and spinal chord.

Bone marrow is the soft tissue that lies in the middle of bones, produces lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that fights off infection. For those suffering from chronic lymphocytic Leukemia, the lymphocytes do not mature into healthy blood cells, and they accumulate in blood and bone marrow. This reduces the amount of healthy blood cells as well as platelets and red blood cells.

Leukemia chronic lymphocytic tends to be slow-growing. If this is the case, doctors may use the strategy of watchful waiting. This means that they will delay treatment while they monitor symptoms, blood counts, and other tests. If the condition is becoming worse, they'll begin treatment.

Treatment

A doctor can examine a sample of blood to determine the presence of lymphocytes which are white blood cells that fight against disease and infection. A high number of these cells could indicate chronic lymphocytic leukemia. This test is called a complete blood count (CBC). It can also include an examination to determine the type of lymphocytes present. This can help doctors distinguish them from normal blood cells.

If the leukemia is in its beginning stages and doesn't cause symptoms, doctors generally don't recommend treatment right away. This approach of waiting and watching can let the leukemia develop slowly, which may lead to a cure, without the side consequences that come with active treatment.

When the leukemia is more advanced and causing symptoms, doctors treat it with medication and radiation therapy. Radiation therapy utilizes high-energy x-rays and other particles to eliminate cancerous cells and reduce the lymph nodes and spleens. Radiation oncologists are the specialists who administer this treatment.

Prognosis

The outlook (prognosis) for chronic lymphocytic leukemia, differs. Some patients can be afflicted with the disease for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Injury Settlements years. Some sufferers have more severe symptoms and require treatment faster. New treatments are improving the outlook for certain patients with CLL.

Doctors aren't sure what causes chronic lymphocytic Leukemia. They know that something changes (mutates) in the DNA of blood-producing cells. This leads to the growth of ineffective, abnormal lymphocytes. The lymphocytes are able to block healthy cells from the bone marrow and can interfere with the normal blood cell production.

It's more common among people who are over 50. It's uncommon in teens and children. It's not known which risk factors make you more likely to get this condition. Certain risk factors can be modified for example, being older or having close family members who have suffered from it. Some risk factors, like a genetic mutation are passed down through the generations and cannot be avoided. These genetic mutations do not cause cancer, but they do increase your chances of getting it.