Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCLL Survival RateFactors in OutlookIs a Cure for CLL in Sight?Coping and SupportFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia GuideWhat to Eat When You Have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
CLL Survival Rate
Factors in Outlook
Is a Cure for CLL in Sight?
Coping and Support
Frequently Asked Questions
Next in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Guide
The average age of onset forchronic lymphocytic leukemiais 70. CLL starts in one of the types of white blood cells found in thebone marrow. White blood cells are an integral part of your immune system. They help you stave off infection and disease. CLL is uncommon in people under the age of 40. Men are slightly more likely to get this condition than women.
This article will discuss survival rates and what you can expect if you have this condition. It will also touch upon CLL treatments, coping mechanisms you can try, and factors that impact CLL prognosis.
Verywell / Jessica Olah
In CLL, too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) are produced from a single cell line (monoclonal). These blood cells crowd out healthy white blood cells, as well as red blood cells and platelets.
CLL is a slow-growing cancer that spreads from the bone marrow into the bloodstream. Eventually, it may spread into other areas of the body, including the liver,lymph nodes, andspleen.
People with CLL may not have any symptoms for years. Once they occur, symptoms may include:
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Survival Rate
It’s important to remember that relative survival rates are estimates based on data compiled from large numbers of people with a common diagnosis. This statistic does not take treatments or responses to treatments into account and is not predictive of what will happen in your situation.
Factors That Influence Outlook
No two people are alike. Your CLL prognosis will vary from that of other people with this condition. Age, overall health, and response to treatment can all have an impact on your outlook and what you can expect.
Diagnosis of CLL
CLL symptoms may not surface for years. They can also indicate many other conditions. Even so, it’s important to let your doctor know if you have any CLL symptoms. This can help streamline your diagnosis.
To diagnose CLL, your doctor will conduct a physical exam to look for lymph node swelling and abdominal pain. They’ll also take a medical history that includes information about your family’s history of this disease.
There is no screening test currently in place for CLL. Your doctor may first suspect you have CLL from routine blood test results.
People with CLL have too many lymphocytes in their blood. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell. Having more than 5,000 lymphocytes per cubic millimeter of blood strongly indicates CLL. Another indicator is that your blood may also contain too few red blood cells and platelets.
If CLL is suspected, your doctor will order additional diagnostic tests. These include:
CLL Staging
Staging can help your doctor determine CLL prognosis and spread. It can also determine which treatments will be most effective.
There are two different systems used for staging CLL. The Rai system is most typically used in the United States,while the Binet system is more commonly used throughout Europe.
The Rai system is comprised of five stages, from 0 to 4, that are grouped into three risk groups:
To determine CLL stage, the Rai system takes these factors into account:
CLL Treatment Options
There is currently no cure for CLL. Treatments are designed to help you manage symptoms, plus slow down the progression of the disease. Your doctor may recommend one or more treatments for you based upon the stage you’re in, the symptoms you have, and other factors such as age and health. Treatments include:
Watch and wait: If you’re in a low-risk stage and have no outward symptoms,watchful waiting may be the first recommended course of action. Watchful waiting entails observation without starting treatment. It has been shown in studies to be as effective as aggressive treatments during early CLL stages.It also has the advantage of reducing the potential for side effects from treatments.
Watchful waiting is not a passive treatment. During the watch-and-wait period, you’ll see your doctor regularly for examinations and blood draws.
Chemotherapy:Chemotherapyfights cancer with drugs that are taken orally or intravenously. Chemo drugs used to treat CLL include corticosteroids, alkylating agents, and purine analogs.
Monoclonal antibodies: Monoclonal antibodies target and destroy a specific target, such as proteins on the surface of cancer cells. They are given intravenously. Several types of monoclonal antibodies are used to combat CLL. Chemotherapy, combined with monoclonal antibody treatment, is a standard protocol used for fighting this disease.
Radiation: Radiation destroys or shrinks cancer cells in a specific, pinpointed location. Since CLL doesn’t usually cause tumors, it is not a standard therapy for this condition. However, low-dose radiation may be used if you have an enlarged spleen or swollen lymph nodes in a specific area.
Targeted therapy: Targeted drugs may also be used as a first-line CLL treatment.Targeted therapy drugs zero in on proteins in and on CLL cells, to block or disrupt their activity.
Stem cell (bone marrow) transplant: This treatment may be recommended if other therapies fail, or if you have a recurrence. Astem cell transplantuses immature cells called stem cells to replace cancerous bone marrow.
Surgery: If you have an enlarged spleen that is causing symptoms such as pain, asplenectomy(removal of the spleen) may be recommended.
There is currently no cure on the horizon for CLL. Research is ongoing and continues to prolong survival and improve the quality of life for people with this condition. Cutting-edge treatments, including the use of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs, proteins made in a lab to fight infection) and targeted therapies (using drugs or other substances to identify and attack certain cancer cells), are helping people live longer and with fewer symptoms than in decades past.
Current research into potential cures and treatments for CLL include:
Coping and Support for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Receiving a diagnosis of CLL can be scary and upsetting. People with early-stage disease who are watching and waiting may find it stressful to not pursue treatment.
Those with later-stage disease may have uncomfortable side effects from CLL and its treatments. Dealing with an incurable illness is never easy. These strategies may help:
Speak Out
Be an advocate for your own care. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your doctor or to other members of your CLL team, such as a therapist or social worker. This may be especially important if your condition or treatment protocol changes.
Educate Yourself
You don’t want your entire life to be about CLL, but it’s good to keep on top of developments and new research. Try to find the balance. Educate yourself about your condition and what you can do to maintain a high quality of life. Remember also to leave time for other important things, including family, friends, and interests.
Stay Active
CLL may cause fatigue. The treatments you’re going through may also make you feel very tired, or ill. You’ll probably have good days and bad days. That’s to be expected.
Whenever possible, try to exercise and stay active. Taking walks, swimming at the gym, and doing easygoing activities like window shopping can help you stay engaged and social. Go at a pace that is comfortable for you. When possible, enroll a friend or exercise buddy to tag along.
Engage in Self-Care
Self-care is more than just a catchphrase. It’s a strategy that can help you find strength, enjoy life, and support health.
Self-care will vary for different people. For you, it may include pursuing meditation and yoga or eating healthy, organic food. Or, it may mean putting on makeup every day, even when you don’t feel like getting out of bed.
What to Eat When You Have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia?
Summary
CLL is a slow-growing cancer. It is possible to have this condition for many years before you start to show symptoms. The prognosis for CLL is much higher than for many other types of cancer. However, there is currently no cure for this disease. CLL has a five-year survival rate of around 83%, although it drops under 70% in those over 75.
A Word From Verywell
Finding out that you or a loved one has CLL may take your breath away. It can be overwhelming to learn you have an incurable condition. It may sound cliché, but incurable and untreatable are not the same thing.
There are many highly effective treatments that improve survival rates and quality of life for people with CLL. It’s also important to remember that CLL survival rates are higher than those for many other types of cancer.
No matter what the future brings, try not to go through it alone. Support groups for CLL patients and their caregivers can be found through theCLL Societyand theSmart Patients Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Community.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe 10-year survival rate for CLL is approximately 64.7%. Survival rates are lower for people over 75.CLL is not curable. However, it is possible to live for 10 years or more after diagnosis.CLL is a disease that usually impacts older adults. Data indicates that the average survival rate for CLL is 10–11 years in people over 55, and 12 years in people who are under 55.Survival rates are estimates, based on large numbers of people. Data doesn’t currently indicate that a 20-year survival rate is common or likely with CLL. However, hope is always possible.
The 10-year survival rate for CLL is approximately 64.7%. Survival rates are lower for people over 75.
CLL is not curable. However, it is possible to live for 10 years or more after diagnosis.
CLL is a disease that usually impacts older adults. Data indicates that the average survival rate for CLL is 10–11 years in people over 55, and 12 years in people who are under 55.
Survival rates are estimates, based on large numbers of people. Data doesn’t currently indicate that a 20-year survival rate is common or likely with CLL. However, hope is always possible.
18 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Leukemia Research Foundation.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: leukemia — chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.Chronic B-cell leukemias and Agent Orange,American Cancer Society.Tests for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Stevens-Kroef MJ, van den Berg E, Olde Weghuis D.Identification of prognostic relevant chromosomal abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia using microarray-based genomic profiling.Mol cytogenet. 2014;7(1):3–21. doi:10.1186/1755-8166-7-3Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.CLL staging.American Cancer Society.How is chronic lymphocytic leukemia staged?American Cancer Society.Typical treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Hallek M, Cheson BD, Catovsky D, et. al.iwCLL guidelines for diagnosis, indications for treatment, response assessment, and supportive management of CLL.Blood. 2018 Jun 21;131(25):2745-2760. doi:10.1182/blood-2017-09-806398ClinicalTrials.gov.Vaccine therapy for treating patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Penn Medicine. Abramson Cancer Center.Vaccine therapy.National Cancer Institute.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment (PDQ)—patient version.Castro JE, Melo-Cardenas J, Urquiza M, Barajas-Gamboa JS, Pakbaz RS, Kipps TJ.Gene immunotherapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a phase I study of intranodally injected adenovirus expressing a chimeric CD154 molecule.Cancer Res. 2012;72(12):2937-48. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-3368Akbulut H.Immune gene therapy of cancer.Turk J Med Sci. 2020;50(SI-2):1679-1690. doi:10.3906/sag-2005-327Evans J, Ziebland S, Pettitt AR.Incurable, invisible and inconclusive: watchful waiting for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and implications for doctor-patient communication.Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2012;21(1):67-77. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2011.01278.xPulte D, Castro FA, Jansen L, et al.Trends in survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients in Germany and the USA in the first decade of the twenty-first century.Journal of Hematology & Oncology. 2016;9(1):28. doi:10.1186/s13045-016-0257-2Parikh SA, Rabe KG, Kay NE, et al.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in young (≤ 55 years) patients: a comprehensive analysis of prognostic factors and outcomes.Haematologica. 2014;99(1):140-147. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2013.086066
18 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Key statistics for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Leukemia Research Foundation.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: leukemia — chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.Chronic B-cell leukemias and Agent Orange,American Cancer Society.Tests for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Stevens-Kroef MJ, van den Berg E, Olde Weghuis D.Identification of prognostic relevant chromosomal abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia using microarray-based genomic profiling.Mol cytogenet. 2014;7(1):3–21. doi:10.1186/1755-8166-7-3Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.CLL staging.American Cancer Society.How is chronic lymphocytic leukemia staged?American Cancer Society.Typical treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Hallek M, Cheson BD, Catovsky D, et. al.iwCLL guidelines for diagnosis, indications for treatment, response assessment, and supportive management of CLL.Blood. 2018 Jun 21;131(25):2745-2760. doi:10.1182/blood-2017-09-806398ClinicalTrials.gov.Vaccine therapy for treating patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Penn Medicine. Abramson Cancer Center.Vaccine therapy.National Cancer Institute.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment (PDQ)—patient version.Castro JE, Melo-Cardenas J, Urquiza M, Barajas-Gamboa JS, Pakbaz RS, Kipps TJ.Gene immunotherapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a phase I study of intranodally injected adenovirus expressing a chimeric CD154 molecule.Cancer Res. 2012;72(12):2937-48. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-3368Akbulut H.Immune gene therapy of cancer.Turk J Med Sci. 2020;50(SI-2):1679-1690. doi:10.3906/sag-2005-327Evans J, Ziebland S, Pettitt AR.Incurable, invisible and inconclusive: watchful waiting for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and implications for doctor-patient communication.Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2012;21(1):67-77. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2011.01278.xPulte D, Castro FA, Jansen L, et al.Trends in survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients in Germany and the USA in the first decade of the twenty-first century.Journal of Hematology & Oncology. 2016;9(1):28. doi:10.1186/s13045-016-0257-2Parikh SA, Rabe KG, Kay NE, et al.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in young (≤ 55 years) patients: a comprehensive analysis of prognostic factors and outcomes.Haematologica. 2014;99(1):140-147. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2013.086066
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Leukemia Research Foundation.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: leukemia — chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.Chronic B-cell leukemias and Agent Orange,American Cancer Society.Tests for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Stevens-Kroef MJ, van den Berg E, Olde Weghuis D.Identification of prognostic relevant chromosomal abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia using microarray-based genomic profiling.Mol cytogenet. 2014;7(1):3–21. doi:10.1186/1755-8166-7-3Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.CLL staging.American Cancer Society.How is chronic lymphocytic leukemia staged?American Cancer Society.Typical treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Hallek M, Cheson BD, Catovsky D, et. al.iwCLL guidelines for diagnosis, indications for treatment, response assessment, and supportive management of CLL.Blood. 2018 Jun 21;131(25):2745-2760. doi:10.1182/blood-2017-09-806398ClinicalTrials.gov.Vaccine therapy for treating patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).Penn Medicine. Abramson Cancer Center.Vaccine therapy.National Cancer Institute.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment (PDQ)—patient version.Castro JE, Melo-Cardenas J, Urquiza M, Barajas-Gamboa JS, Pakbaz RS, Kipps TJ.Gene immunotherapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a phase I study of intranodally injected adenovirus expressing a chimeric CD154 molecule.Cancer Res. 2012;72(12):2937-48. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-3368Akbulut H.Immune gene therapy of cancer.Turk J Med Sci. 2020;50(SI-2):1679-1690. doi:10.3906/sag-2005-327Evans J, Ziebland S, Pettitt AR.Incurable, invisible and inconclusive: watchful waiting for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and implications for doctor-patient communication.Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2012;21(1):67-77. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2011.01278.xPulte D, Castro FA, Jansen L, et al.Trends in survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients in Germany and the USA in the first decade of the twenty-first century.Journal of Hematology & Oncology. 2016;9(1):28. doi:10.1186/s13045-016-0257-2Parikh SA, Rabe KG, Kay NE, et al.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in young (≤ 55 years) patients: a comprehensive analysis of prognostic factors and outcomes.Haematologica. 2014;99(1):140-147. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2013.086066
American Cancer Society.Key statistics for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Leukemia Research Foundation.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: leukemia — chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.Chronic B-cell leukemias and Agent Orange,
American Cancer Society.Tests for chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Stevens-Kroef MJ, van den Berg E, Olde Weghuis D.Identification of prognostic relevant chromosomal abnormalities in chronic lymphocytic leukemia using microarray-based genomic profiling.Mol cytogenet. 2014;7(1):3–21. doi:10.1186/1755-8166-7-3
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.CLL staging.
American Cancer Society.How is chronic lymphocytic leukemia staged?
American Cancer Society.Typical treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Hallek M, Cheson BD, Catovsky D, et. al.iwCLL guidelines for diagnosis, indications for treatment, response assessment, and supportive management of CLL.Blood. 2018 Jun 21;131(25):2745-2760. doi:10.1182/blood-2017-09-806398
ClinicalTrials.gov.Vaccine therapy for treating patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Penn Medicine. Abramson Cancer Center.Vaccine therapy.
National Cancer Institute.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment (PDQ)—patient version.
Castro JE, Melo-Cardenas J, Urquiza M, Barajas-Gamboa JS, Pakbaz RS, Kipps TJ.Gene immunotherapy of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a phase I study of intranodally injected adenovirus expressing a chimeric CD154 molecule.Cancer Res. 2012;72(12):2937-48. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-11-3368
Akbulut H.Immune gene therapy of cancer.Turk J Med Sci. 2020;50(SI-2):1679-1690. doi:10.3906/sag-2005-327
Evans J, Ziebland S, Pettitt AR.Incurable, invisible and inconclusive: watchful waiting for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and implications for doctor-patient communication.Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2012;21(1):67-77. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2354.2011.01278.x
Pulte D, Castro FA, Jansen L, et al.Trends in survival of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients in Germany and the USA in the first decade of the twenty-first century.Journal of Hematology & Oncology. 2016;9(1):28. doi:10.1186/s13045-016-0257-2
Parikh SA, Rabe KG, Kay NE, et al.Chronic lymphocytic leukemia in young (≤ 55 years) patients: a comprehensive analysis of prognostic factors and outcomes.Haematologica. 2014;99(1):140-147. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2013.086066
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