Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Support Association is a charity that have well-established links with national leukaemia and lymphoma charities and other international CLL organisations. They provide support to CLL patients and their carers and inform them of development in treatment and research.
What is CLL?
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects white blood cells.
Under normal circumstances healthy white blood cells help our bodies fight infection and disease. In CLL, the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which aren’t fully developed, and which don’t work properly. Over time, these cells accumulate in the blood and outnumber the normal cells. As well as the blood and bone marrow, white blood cells are also found in large numbers in the lymphatic system, the spleen and other body tissues. This may give rise to enlarged lymph nodes and spleen.
When the abnormal cells accumulate mainly in the lymph nodes rather than the blood, it is called Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL).
CLL can behave very differently in different people. The term ‘chronic’ means that in most cases this type of cancer develops or progresses very slowly over months or years. Around a third of CLL patients may never need treatment. However, in some cases the disease progresses more rapidly and the options for treatment will need to be considered.
How common it is?
CLL is the most common form of leukaemia in adults in Western countries.
Approximately 4,220 adults are diagnosed with CLL in the UK each year. It is more common in white people and is rarely seen in children.
The charity can be found here at CLLSA