Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment: An Overview

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment options include:

 

• Watchful waiting
• Radiation therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Surgery
• Monoclonal antibody therapy.

 

Choosing the most appropriate chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.

 

Watchful Waiting and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment

Watchful waiting involves closely monitoring a patient's condition without giving any chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment until symptoms appear or change. This is also called observation. During this time, problems caused by CLL, such as infection, are treated.

 

Radiation therapy is a chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy: external radiation and internal radiation. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer. The way the radiation therapy is given will depend on the type and stage of the cancer that is being treated.