Hairy Cell Leukemia

Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL) from Benzene Exposure

Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL):
HCL is characterized by cells with minute, hairlike projections on their surface.

Hairy cell leukemia (HCL), like chronic lymphocytic leukemia, is a slowly progressing cancer of lymphocytes. But, HCL is often considered separately from CLL because of several important differences in symptoms and treatment. The cells of HCL also appear different under the microscope. HCL cells have fine projections from their surface that creates an impression of the cells appearing "hairy."

Staging for Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)

There is no generally accepted staging system for hairy cell leukemia.

For most cancers, staging is the process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. Most types of cancer are given stages of I, II, III, or IV, based on the size of the tumor and how far from the original site in the body the cancer has spread. Stages are useful because they guide your treatment. They also help determine your prognosis (outlook for chances of survival).

Treatment of Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL)

Patients without symptoms are not given any treatment but do have careful follow-up exams. These are done every few months to check for progression and appearance of symptoms. Some patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) live for many years without having any symptoms or receiving any treatment.

Oncologists now recommend chemotherapy for HCL patients with low blood cell counts. The two drugs used for this are called cladribine (2-CdA) and pentostatin. They seem to be equally effective with few side effects other than lowering blood counts. Approximately 80% to 90% of patients respond to these drugs, and the responses last more than 5 years in 75% of patients.

Recently, doctors have found that giving rituximab after cladribine may completely eliminate the disease in people who haven't fully responded. Because this is such an uncommon disease, too few people have been treated with rituximab to know if it will make a difference in the long term. If a patient does have a relapse, a second course of treatment is usually effective.

Rarely, patients who don't respond to chemotherapy, or who are uncomfortable because of a very enlarged spleen (caused by leukemia cells growing in the spleen), may elect to have the organ removed by surgery (splenectomy).

American Cancer Society

Benzene Lawsuits – Talk to a Benzene Lawyer

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with any of the following leukemia's, then please contact us immediately:

• Aplastic Anemia (AA)
• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)

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