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1. Written by Cristi@n
   on November 9, 2009 at 7:42 am
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   cancer of blood forming tissues including the lymph system…

2. Written by doclakew
   on November 9, 2009 at 7:42 am
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   About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
   Each year, nearly 10,020 people in the United States learn that they have chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The disease may be referred to as chronic lymphoid leukemia or as CLL.
   CLL results from an acquired injury to the DNA of a single cell, a lymphocyte, in the bone marrow. This injury is not present at birth. Scientists do not yet understand what produces this change in the DNA of CLL patients.
   The change in the cell’s DNA gives the CLL cell a growth and survival advantage. The result is the uncontrolled growth of CLL cells in the marrow, leading to an increased concentration in the blood. The CLL cells that accumulate in the marrow do not impede normal blood cell production to the extent that is the case with acute lymphocytic leukemia. This important distinction from acute leukemia accounts for the less severe early course of the disease.
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   Causes and Risk Factors
   Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is not associated with high-dose radiation or benzene exposures, as is the case with the other three major types of leukemia. CLL is very uncommon in individuals under 45 years of age. At the time of diagnosis, about 95 percent of patients are over age 50 and the incidence of the disease increases dramatically thereafter (See Graph – Age Specific Incidence Rates 1998-2002). The risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia becomes measurable after age 35 and increases dramatically over succeeding decades.
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   Symptoms and Signs
   Early in the disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia may have little effect on a person’s well-being. The symptoms of CLL usually develop gradually:
   Patients tire more easily.
   They may feel short of breath when physically active.
   They may lose weight.
   They may experience frequent infections of the skin, lungs, kidneys or other sites.
   Many CLL patients say they learned they had CLL after a routine check-up.
   When an enlarged lymph node or an enlarged spleen is found during a physical examination, or when a routine blood test shows a higher than normal number of lymphocytes, a physican will order lab tests to get more information.
   Approach to Diagnosis
   Diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical examination by the physician. To complete the diagnosis, the blood and, in most cases, the marrow cells must be examined. Physicians use a number of lab tests to look at cells in blood and marrow.
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   A test called flow cytometry is used to find out if a patient has CLL. This test is also called immunophenotyping. Flow cytometry shows if CLL is causing the high number of lymphocytes in the blood. Flow cytometry can also show if the CLL began with a B lymphocyte or a T lymphocyte. B lypmphocyte (or B-cell CLL) is most common (see Figure 1).
   Figure 1: Depending on the place in lymphocytic cell development in which the malignant transformation occurs, the leukemic cells may be principally B cells, T cells, or NK cells. Most patients have a B cell type of leukemia. A minority have T or NK cell types. These distinctions may be accounted for by the malignant transformation occurring after the common lymphocyte has differentiated into one of the three types of lymphocytes. The malignant event (mutation of DNA) would, therefore, occur at the point, or after, the early specialized lymphocytes were formed.
   Other lab tests are done if flow cytometry shows the patient has CLL. A cytogenetic analysis looks to see if there are changes in the chromosomes of the CLL cells. (Every cell in the body has chromosomes that carry genes. Genes contain the instructions that tell each cell what to do.)
   FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) is another test that is used to check for chromosome changes. After CLL treatment begins it can be used to see if treatment is working. This is done by measuring the number of cells with abnormal chromosomes that remain after treatment.
   A bone marrow biopsy is used to look at the amount and pattern of CLL cells in the marrow. In patients with more advanced CLL a bone marrow biopsy is usually done as a baseline. The results from the baseline are compared to a repeat bone marrow biopsy after treatment. This is one way to tell how the patient is doing after treatment. This test is not always done for low-risk CLL patients.
   Doctors also may check the blood for immunoglobulins (gamma globulins.) Immunoglobulins are proteins that help the body fight infection. CLL patients may not have enough of these proteins. With more advanced CLL, low levels of immunoglobulins may be a cause of repeated infections.
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   Get More Information
   The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society offers ongoing education programs featuring leading leukemia specialists discussing the latest issues in the diagnosis and treatment of leukemia. Visit the Leukemia Education Series page to find out about upcoming and archived programs. These programs are offered at no charge.
   Further details of treatment and supportive care and the beneficial and adverse effects of treatment may be obtained from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s information booklet on chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Read or order online the Society’s free publications CLL: A Guide for Patients and Families and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
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   Contact Us
   The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
   1311 Mamaroneck Ave.
   White Plains, NY 10605
   or call the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572.
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   Helpful Links
   National Cancer Institute
   This site offers comprehensive information about cancers and the diagnosis procedures.
   Medicine Online
   This site offers information about diagnosis and treatment (including immunotherapy), with pages written by several physicians. Go to “cancer links/leukemia/current”.

3. Written by Apples to Apples
   on November 9, 2009 at 7:42 am
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   It’s a little complicated – try Google, you will find an explanation there

4. Written by Barry S
   on November 9, 2009 at 7:42 am
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   Cancer caused by lymphocytes either B-cells or T-cells.

5. Written by manjunat
   on November 9, 2009 at 7:42 am
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   lymphocytic leukaemia also known as lymphoblastic leukaemia is a cancer of the lymphocyte white blood cells. Basically something happens in the cell cycle that causes the divisions to become erratic and they overproduce but before the cells can mature there is nowhere in the bone marrow to store them because of the over production. This means immature lymphocytes known as lymphblasts enter the blood stream but are ineffective and do not work against any infection because they are not mature and don’t have the “training” to understand what to do.
   The overproduction is what causes the pain in the hips and legs, the anaemia is caused because of the overproduction of the lymphocytes/lymphoblasts there is no room to produce red blood cells or platelets which can account for the bruising. If you are not producing enough red blood cells then that can cause the lethargy and fatigue that some people present with also.
   i hope this has helped in some way.

6. Written by scat201
   on November 9, 2009 at 7:42 am
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   Here is the best site for info:http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls
   Best wishes

7. Written by Char
   on November 9, 2009 at 7:42 am
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   Leukemia is cancer of the cells that produce white blood cells. There are two main types of white blood cells: lymphocytes and granulocytes. Lymphocytic leukemia occurs when the cells that produce the lymphocytes in the bone marrow start dividing out of control without producing working lymphocytes. That is, these cells become cancerous.

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