Hairy cell leukemia
What is it?
Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood particularly affecting the white blood cells in the body. White blood cells support the immune system and help the body to fight off infection. Hairy cell leukemia is a rare type of leukaemia which gets its name from the "hairy looking" surface of the outside of the cancerous cells.
Hairy cell leukemia is a slow-growing cancer in which the bone marrow creates too many of the white blood cells called b cells (also named lymphocytes). When the bone marrow continues to grow the cancerous cells, the fewer of the other good cells that it's meant to make are created.
Who's most at risk?
Typically hairy cell leukemia is more likely to occur in men than women as well of those who are middle-aged or older.
How do I know if I have it?
Some people don't show any symptoms and may find out they have hairy cell leukemia from other blood tests, however if you do present symptoms that don't go away, it's important to get checked out by a doctor.
The doctor will take blood tests and may sample your bone marrow to test as well. If they need further testing, usually a scan will be conducted as well such as an ultrasound or a CT scan.
Hairy cell leukemia left untreated can lead to many infections, easy bleeding and anemia (a low red blood cell count), which causes fatigue. Hairy cell leukemia can also increase a person's chance of having a second type of cancer including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as others.
I have it. Now what?
Treatment of hairy cell leukemia is not always started right away. Because the cancer grows slowly and sometimes doesn't grow any further, monitoring the cancer can be enough.
Chemotherapy drugs called cladribine and pentosatin can also be used as treatment to get people to partial or full remission. While people can stay in remission for many years, there is no permanent cure for hairy cell leukemia.
Surgery to remove the spleen if the cancer is causing significant trouble there is also an effective treatment, however this is not common.
Lastly, there are some biological treatments that help the body recognize the cancer cells as cancer and fight them off. These will usually be used if a person either can't take chemotherapy or if the chemo isn't working.
What is it?
Leukaemia is a cancer of the blood particularly affecting the white blood cells in the body. White blood cells support the immune system and help the body to fight off infection. Hairy cell leukemia is a rare type of leukaemia which gets its name from the "hairy looking" surface of the outside of the cancerous cells.
Hairy cell leukemia is a slow-growing cancer in which the bone marrow creates too many of the white blood cells called b cells (also named lymphocytes). When the bone marrow continues to grow the cancerous cells, the fewer of the other good cells that it's meant to make are created.
Who's most at risk?
Typically hairy cell leukemia is more likely to occur in men than women as well of those who are middle-aged or older.
How do I know if I have it?
Some people don't show any symptoms and may find out they have hairy cell leukemia from other blood tests, however if you do present symptoms that don't go away, it's important to get checked out by a doctor.
The doctor will take blood tests and may sample your bone marrow to test as well. If they need further testing, usually a scan will be conducted as well such as an ultrasound or a CT scan.
Hairy cell leukemia left untreated can lead to many infections, easy bleeding and anemia (a low red blood cell count), which causes fatigue. Hairy cell leukemia can also increase a person's chance of having a second type of cancer including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma as well as others.
I have it. Now what?
Treatment of hairy cell leukemia is not always started right away. Because the cancer grows slowly and sometimes doesn't grow any further, monitoring the cancer can be enough.
Chemotherapy drugs called cladribine and pentosatin can also be used as treatment to get people to partial or full remission. While people can stay in remission for many years, there is no permanent cure for hairy cell leukemia.
Surgery to remove the spleen if the cancer is causing significant trouble there is also an effective treatment, however this is not common.
Lastly, there are some biological treatments that help the body recognize the cancer cells as cancer and fight them off. These will usually be used if a person either can't take chemotherapy or if the chemo isn't working.
Symptom list:
Hairy cell leukemia
Financial support
Not all of us are able to afford the treatment we need. Search your insurance coverage, or check out what charities may be able to offer you for your condition.
p.s. Just because you have insurance, that doesn't mean that charities or other organizations are not able to support you too.
Emotional support
Whether it's a free counseling session or to find someone with a similar diagnosis, these Germie approved charities might be able to help. Click to explore their offerings!
