Chronic lymphocytic leukemia or CLL is different from acute forms of leukemia in that initially, it behaves less aggressively. It may have a prolonged phase during which the disease progresses slowly or not at all. However, unlike the acute forms, progression of the disease is irreversible. According to the "Annals of Oncology," the median survival for patients with CLL is eight to ten years. This is a significant improvement over the five to six year prognosis that was reported in the 1970s. Various factors color individual prognoses.
Cell Types
Lymphoblasts can mature into several different types of white blood cells so there are several different types of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The prognosis of CLL depends upon what type of blood cell is involved. The Merck Manual explains that in most instances, CLL involves B lymphocytes. However, it can also include hairy cell leukemia, T cell leukemia and Sézary syndrome. Of all the types of CLL, patients with B lymphocyctic leukemia tend to live longer than those with other types. The Merck Manual reports that patients with B lymphocytic leukemia live between ten and twenty years after diagnosis.
Staging
Staging is intimately related to CLL prognosis because patients in the advanced stages of disease have a worse prognosis. The National Cancer Institute says that there are two standard ways of staging disease in CLL patients. The Binet system ranges from clinical stage A, which is characterized by no anemia or platelet shortage and fewer than three areas of lymph involvement, to stage C, which is characterized by anemia or lack of platelets. The Raj system has five stages of disease, ranging from stage 0 to stage IV. In stage 0, the only symptom is a slightly elevated lymphocyte count. In stage IV, the lymph notes, liver and spleen are enlarged. The platelet count is down because the bone marrow is crowded with lymphocytes.
Survival Rates
The survival rates from time of diagnosis are better for patients if the disease is found at an early stage. MedlinePlus reports that "half of patients diagnosed in the earliest stages of the disease live more than 12 years."
Other Factors
The National Cancer Institute reports that prognosis is influenced by other factors as well. The patient's general health influences the prognosis. Additional factors include the effectiveness of treatment, whether the disease progresses to lymphoma or prolymphocytic leukemia, and whether the patient's DNA has changed.
Statistics
According to the National Cancer Institute, researchers estimate 14,990 new cases of CLL in 2010, and 4,390 deaths. CLL is primarily a disease of older people, many of whom have other disorders that may affect prognosis. Although CLL is a fatal disease, the short-term prognosis is better for younger people who are in better health.
