Many people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) won't have any symptoms at all. They are diagnosed because they have a routine blood test for something else.
In CLL symptoms tend to be mild at first and get worse slowly. Many symptoms are vague. You may feel as if you had the flu.
Remember,many people with CLL have no symptoms at first. Many of the symptoms listed below occur in CLL but are more likely to be caused by other illnesses.
CLL may cause:
Swollen lymph glands or abdominal discomfort from an enlarged spleen
In CLL, you can have swollen glands (lymph nodes). The swollen glands are most often in your neck or under your arms. You may also get an enlarged spleen. Thespleenis an organ on the left of your body, just under your ribs. If your spleen becomes much bigger than normal, it can be uncomfortable or painful. Your doctor may be able to feel that the spleen is enlarged.
Weight loss
CLL itself uses up energy that your body would otherwise use or store. So you may lose weight, even if you eat normally. Rarely, an enlarged spleen may also increase the weight loss by squashing your stomach and making you feel full more quickly than usual. You may then eat less than normal.
Infections that will not get better
As the numberof abnormal white blood cells rise, you may pick up infections more easily. This is because the abnormal white blood cells cannot fight off infection as well as healthy ones.
Feeling tired
You might feel more tired than normal, even if you're getting a good nights sleep.This could be because you do not have enough red blood cells (anaemia).
Anaemia
The lack of space in the bone marrow also interferes with the production of red blood cells. These normally help to carry oxygen around the body. If you do not have enough red blood cells, this is known asanaemia. You may feel breathless and tired. Anaemia is generally a later symptom of CLL.
Bleeding or bruising
The extra white blood cells take up more space in the bone marrow as their numbers grow. So there is not enough room for platelets to be made. Platelets help to clot the blood, so you may have nosebleeds, unexplained bruising or unusually heavy periods. This is generally a later symptom of CLL, rather than an earlier one. Often bleeding and bruising happens in people who have a bleeding condition as well as CLL.
Bone pain and night sweats
Some people whose CLL has changed (transformed) into ahigh gradedisease have bone pain andnight sweats. Bone pain happens because there are too many leukaemia cells in the bone marrow, causing pressure on nerves and causing pain. The exact cause of the nightsweatsis unknown.
What to do if you have these symptoms
If you have any of these symptoms you must have them checked by your GP. But remember, they can all be caused by other conditions. Everyone's lymph glands swell up when they have a throat infection for example. Most people with these symptoms will not have chronic leukaemia.
