Hairy Cell Leukemia
Hairy cell leukemia is the most uncommon type of leukemia. Many people view it as a subset of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia. According to Mayo Clinic, approximately 600 to 800 new cases are diagnosed each year. Middle-aged men are the most likely to be diagnosed with it, and it is rarely if ever seen in children.
Expand All Guide SectionsWhat is Hairy Cell Leukemia?
Hairy cell leukemia is a slow-growing disease in which the bone marrow makes too many “B” cells, a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Hairy cell leukemia gets its name from the fine projections on these cells that, under a microscope, look like hair.
Dulcinea's Insight
- According to the National Library of Medicine, patients who have the disease and are treated can expect to live 10 years or more after diagnosis.
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For an overview …
The Leukemia-Lymphoma Society
offers a brief, easy to understand overview of the disease. Scroll down to the bottom and click on the Hairy Cell Leukemia fact sheet link to get a free document in PDF form that explains HCL.
WebMD
has a more detailed overview of hairy cell leukemia.
For symptoms …
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
describes hairy cell leukemia’s signs and symptoms, such as an enlarged spleen and fatigue.
Hairy Cell Leukemia Diagnosis and Treatment
Doctors use the same types of methods to diagnose and treat hairy cell leukemia as other types of blood cancers: bone marrow biopsies, radiation therapy, chemotherapy and occasionally surgery are a few of the procedures used.
Dulcinea's Insight
- One of the sites in this section discusses complementary and alternative treatments for hairy cell leukemia. To become more informed about alternative and complementary medicine, read the findingDulcinea Complementary and Alternative Medicine Web Guide.
- Many Web sites that detail hairy cell leukemia treatment are citing guidelines found in the Physicians Data Query (PDQ), a National Cancer Institute database that is reviewed and updated every month by a panel of specialists. Given that many sites pull information from this one, it is the only treatment site we list in this guide.
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For HCL diagnosis …
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
explains how hairy cell leukemia is diagnosed with blood and bone marrow tests.
For treatment …
The National Cancer Institute
describes standard and experimental treatments for hairy cell leukemia. A doctor might observe a patient’s condition, use chemotherapy, surgery or use a type of therapy that turns a person’s immune system on the cancer.
Adventist HealthCare
offers content from well-regarded information provider A.D.A.M. that explains what happens during a bone marrow aspiration, in which part of the marrow is removed so doctors can examine it. Another page describes a similar procedure, a bone marrow biopsy.
For complementary and alternative HCL treatments ...
Mayo Clinic
describes some of the complementary and alternative treatments, such as massage or acupuncture, which could help you with the side effects of hairy cell leukemia treatment. Complementary medicine can’t cure the disease but may help in dealing with symptoms and side effects. Be sure to talk to your doctor before starting any complementary and alternative treatment, as it could interfere with HCL treatment.
For clinical trials …
ClinicalTrials.gov
is a clearinghouse operated by the U.S. National Institutes of Health that lists clinical trials currently underway to research hairy cell leukemia. To learn more about clinical trials, speak to your doctor and read the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's guide.
Hairy Cell Leukemia Support
Though hairy cell leukemia is an uncommon disease, there are a few forums and blogs on the Web where you can meet others who are going through the same experience.
Dulcinea's Insight
- There aren’t many forums specifically for hairy cell leukemia, but the sites in this section have sections devoted to leukemia generally. To find more support sites, see the “Support Groups for Leukemia Patients” in the findingDulcinea Leukemia Web Guide.
Dulcinea's Picks
For support groups…
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
has online support groups led by professionals, but you must register first, a procedure that is more complicated than other groups. After completing an online form, someone from the society will call you.
For blogs written by patients with HCL (note, these are not medical professionals)…
Atypical Case of a Rare Disease
is a blog about a man’s experience with HCL, including his experience with complementary medicine. Check out the blog archives for his earliest entries.
John’s Journal
is about a man who has hairy cell leukemia. The blog hasn’t been updated in a few months, but it describes some of the treatments he’s undergone.
For a forum …
Rob’s User Friendly HCL site
is a place where people can chat about having HCL and their treatments. It’s not the best designed site on the Web, but the chat and message boards are active. You must register to chat, but it’s free.
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