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Indications for Treatment

The indications for treatment form an important guideline as to when treatment is necessary for CLL / SLL and when it is not. When guidelines are not followed, some patients end up being treated too soon, and some patients, too late. This section will help you understand when CLL therapy is indicated and when it’s not.

Things to Know About Indications for Treatment

Many CLL / SLL patients never need treatment.

Many CLL / SLL patients never need treatment and have the same life expectancy of those without CLL. CLL / SLL should never be treated until there is a valid reason to treat, except in the case of a clinical trial.

Wait for a valid reason to treat.

Unlike some other blood cancers, there is no threshold level of the cancerous blood cells that demands treatment. Generally, CLL / SLL should not be treated until it starts to cause symptoms or is very likely to do so soon.

High white blood count alone should not drive treatment decisions.

Discuss this with your treating physician.

Many CLL / SLL patients never need treatment.

Many CLL / SLL patients never need treatment and have the same life expectancy of those without CLL. CLL / SLL should never be treated until there is a valid reason to treat, except in the case of a clinical trial.

Wait for a valid reason to treat.

Unlike some other blood cancers, there is no threshold level of the cancerous blood cells that demands treatment. Generally, CLL / SLL should not be treated until it starts to cause symptoms or is very likely to do so soon.

High white count alone should not drive treatment decisions.

Discuss this with your treating physician.

FEATURE

Takeaway Points:
  • Watch and Wait can be an appropriate treatment strategy.
  • There is no evidence that early treatment is of any benefit in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
  • Treatment should be based on what is going on with us patients and in most cases not with our ALC (absolute lymphocyte count).

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ADDITIONAL READING