Hairy cell leukemia: symptoms, causes, and drugs

Definition

What is hairy cell leukemia?

Hairy cell leukemia or hairy cell leukemia is a rare type of malignant blood cancer, and is a disease related to B cells or lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that fights infection. In this condition, your bone marrow makes too many B cells.

This name refers to the appearance of the cell as if it were hair-like under a microscope. When the number of leukemia cells increases, there are fewer healthy white blood cells. Meanwhile, red blood cells and platelets are produced.

How common is this condition?

Hairy cell leukemia is considered a chronic disease because it is impossible to completely disappear, even after a series of treatments over the years. Leukemia is more common in men than women, usually in middle age. About 2% of leukemias are hairy cell leukemia.

You can reduce your chances of getting hair cell leukemia by reducing your risk factors. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of hairy cell leukemia?

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, some people may not feel the signs and symptoms of hairy cell leukemia, but blood tests for other conditions or disorders may be able to identify this disease.

Typically, people with hairy cell leukemia experience signs and symptoms that are very similar to other conditions. Because it is a rare type of blood cancer, the symptoms of hairy cell leukemia blood cancer are:

• Bruising or bleeding easily
• Excessive sweating (especially at night)
• Fatigue
• Feel full even if you only eat a little
• Recurrent infection and fever
• Pain or feeling full in the upper left abdomen
• Swollen lymph glands
• Weakened body
• Weight loss

Some of the signs or symptoms may not be listed above. If you are worried about the symptoms, consult a doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience the signs or symptoms above or have questions, consult a doctor. Every body acts differently from one another. Discuss with your doctor to find the best solution for your condition.

Cause

What causes hairy cell leukemia?

The cause of hairy cell leukemia is not known with certainty. However, doctors suspect there is a mutation called V600E in a certain gene that causes hairy cell leukemia.

In the case of hairy cell leukemia, mutations in the DNA cause your bone marrow stem cells to make too many white blood cells that don't function properly. However, doctors don't know what causes the gene mutation that causes hairy cell leukemia.

Risk factors

What puts me at risk for this condition?

Reporting from the National Cancer Institute of the United States, Your gender and age may affect your risk of developing hairy cell leukemia. Having a risk factor does not mean you will develop cancer, and vice versa.

This condition is more common in older men. In addition, there are several risk factors that can cause a person to develop hairy cell leukemia, namely:

• Radiation exposure. People who are exposed to radiation, such as those who work around an X-ray machine and don't wear adequate protective equipment, may have a higher risk of developing hairy cell leukemia, but there is compelling evidence.
• Chemical exposure. There are several suspected risk factors which suggest that exposure to certain chemicals may play a role in the development of hair leukemia cells.

Some research suggests that people with hairy cell leukemia may have an increased risk of developing other types of cancer. It is unclear whether this risk is due to the effects of hairy cell leukemia on the body or to drugs used to treat the condition.

Other cancers found in people with hairy cell leukemia include non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

The doctor will generally make an initial diagnosis from a history of medication, blood tests, and a physical exam. The final diagnosis depends on finding white blood cells with specific hair forms in the blood.

A referral will be made to a blood specialist (haematologist). The hematologist will perform a bone marrow biopsy. In this biopsy, the haematologist takes a bone marrow sample for study under a microscope and performs additional tests on the bone marrow sample.

Careful analysis of hairy cell leukemia in your blood and bone marrow samples can reveal certain genetic and chemical changes that can give your doctor an idea of ​​life expectancy and the right treatment for you.

What are my treatment options for hairy cell leukemia?

Treatment is not always necessary immediately after hairy cell leukemia is diagnosed. This is because the cancer is progressing very slowly, or not at all, so treatment can be postponed.

There is no cure for hairy cell leukemia. However, the treatments below may put hairy cell leukemia in remission for years.

Chemotherapy

The doctor will have chemotherapy drugs as the first treatment for hairy cell leukemia. Two chemotherapy drugs that are commonly used are:

• Cladribine. Most people taking this drug experience complete remission that can last several years. If hairy cell leukemia recurs, you can be treated again with the same medicine.
• Pentostatin. This drug causes a remission rate similar to cladribine, but it is given on a different schedule.

Biological therapy

Biological therapy aims to make cancer cells more easily recognized by your immune system. Once the immune system recognizes cancer cells as a nuisance, it can start destroying the cancer in your body.

Two types of biological treatments for hairy cell leukemia are:

• Rituximab. If chemotherapy drugs don't work, your doctor may consider rituximab. Doctors can also combine cladribine and rituximab.
• Interferin. You may be able to receive this treatment if chemotherapy is not available. Most people will go into remission for one year because of this treatment.

Other drugs that target the immune system may be recommended if your cancer comes back or if your body doesn't respond to standard treatment. Clinical trials scientists are studying new biologic therapies to treat hairy cell leukemia.

Operation

Surgery to remove your lymph (splenectomy) may be an option if your lymph has ruptured or if the organ is enlarged and causing pain.

Splenectomy is not commonly used to treat hairy cell leukemia, but it may be helpful in certain situations. Any surgery can put you at risk of bleeding and infection.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat hairy cell leukemia?

Lifestyle and home remedies that may help treat hairy cell leukemia are

• Check back your disease in a timely manner to monitor the progress of the disease and your health condition.
• Follow the doctor's instructions, use the medicine according to the doctor's advice.

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.