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What is Hairy Cell Leukemia?
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare type of blood and bone marrow cancer that progresses slowly. It gets the name because the leukemia cells look 'hairy' under a microscope. This disease is characterized by an excessive production of B cells (lymphocytes), a type of white blood cell that fights infection. These excess B cells are abnormal and look 'hairy' under a microscope. As these cells multiply, they crowd out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow leading to a decrease in the number of healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This can cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding.
Types of Hairy Cell Leukemia
There are two types of HCL: classic hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and variant hairy cell leukemia (HCL-V). The two types are differentiated by the appearance of the cells under a microscope, the symptoms they cause, and how they respond to treatment. Classic HCL is more common and responds well to treatment, while HCL-V is less common and does not respond as well to standard HCL treatments.
Why Do People Get Hairy Cell Leukemia?
The exact cause of HCL is unknown. HCL occurs when something goes wrong with the DNA in your blood cells. The mutations tell the blood cells to continue growing and dividing when healthy cells would die. This causes an accumulation of abnormal blood cells that do not function properly. This type of leukemia is more common in men than in women, and it typically affects adults in middle age. It's not clear what causes the DNA mutations that lead to HCL, but doctors have found that most people with HCL have a mutation in a gene called BRAF.
Who Gets Hairy Cell Leukemia?
According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be an estimated 600-800 new cases of Hairy Cell Leukemia in 2023. In 2020, there were an estimated 6,000 people living with HCL in the United States.
Want to Learn More About Hairy Cell Leukemia?
Keep reading HealthTree for Hairy Cell Leukemia's 101 pages!
Hairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare type of blood and bone marrow cancer that progresses slowly. It gets the name because the leukemia cells look 'hairy' under a microscope. This disease is characterized by an excessive production of B cells (lymphocytes), a type of white blood cell that fights infection. These excess B cells are abnormal and look 'hairy' under a microscope. As these cells multiply, they crowd out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow leading to a decrease in the number of healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This can cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding.
Types of Hairy Cell Leukemia
There are two types of HCL: classic hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and variant hairy cell leukemia (HCL-V). The two types are differentiated by the appearance of the cells under a microscope, the symptoms they cause, and how they respond to treatment. Classic HCL is more common and responds well to treatment, while HCL-V is less common and does not respond as well to standard HCL treatments.
Why Do People Get Hairy Cell Leukemia?
The exact cause of HCL is unknown. HCL occurs when something goes wrong with the DNA in your blood cells. The mutations tell the blood cells to continue growing and dividing when healthy cells would die. This causes an accumulation of abnormal blood cells that do not function properly. This type of leukemia is more common in men than in women, and it typically affects adults in middle age. It's not clear what causes the DNA mutations that lead to HCL, but doctors have found that most people with HCL have a mutation in a gene called BRAF.
Who Gets Hairy Cell Leukemia?
According to the National Cancer Institute, there will be an estimated 600-800 new cases of Hairy Cell Leukemia in 2023. In 2020, there were an estimated 6,000 people living with HCL in the United States.
Want to Learn More About Hairy Cell Leukemia?
Keep reading HealthTree for Hairy Cell Leukemia's 101 pages!
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