Hairy Cell Leukemia Stages

Unlike most other types of cancer, when it comes to hairy cell leukemia stages are not used to express the extent of the disease. Instead of hairy cell leukemia stages, cases of the cancer are classified as being untreated, progressive, relapsed, or refractory.

 

Hairy Cell Leukemia Stages: An Overview

Staging is the process that is used to determine how far the cancer has spread. However, there is no standard staging system for hairy cell leukemia. Instead, cases of hairy cell leukemia are classified as one of the following:
 
  • Untreated
  • Progressive
  • Relapsed or refractory.
 

Hairy Cell Leukemia Stages: Untreated Hairy Cell Leukemia

In untreated hairy cell leukemia, the hairy cell leukemia is newly diagnosed and has not been treated except to relieve symptoms such as weight loss and infections. In untreated hairy cell leukemia, some or all of the following conditions can occur:
 
  • Hairy (leukemia) cells are found in the blood and bone marrow
  • The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets may be lower than normal
  • The spleen may be larger than normal.
 

Hairy Cell Leukemia Stages: Progressive Hairy Cell Leukemia

In progressive hairy cell leukemia, the leukemia has been treated with either chemotherapy or splenectomy (removal of the spleen) and one or both of the following conditions can occur:
 
  • There is an increase in the number of hairy cells in the blood or bone marrow
  • The number of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets in the blood is lower than normal.
 

Hairy Cell Leukemia Stages: Relapsed or Refractory Hairy Cell Leukemia

Relapsed hairy cell leukemia is leukemia that has come back after hairy cell leukemia treatment. Refractory hairy cell leukemia is leukemia that has not responded to treatment.
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD