Treatment
As CLL is a long term (chronic) condition you work together with your healthcare team to make decisions about your care.
How often you have appointments depends on if you:
are having treatment for CLL
have had treatment for CLL recently
how you’re feeling
In some cases, your GP will lead the care of your CLL. This might be the case if, for example, you are diagnosed during a routine blood test for something else. In this case, your GP will let you know if you need to see a hospital doctor.
The amount of time you wait before starting treatment for CLL varies. CLL can change and develop at different speeds. And this varies for each person. Your doctor will talk to you about what might happen.
Some people can wait for a very long time before they need treatment, sometimes years. And some people never need to have any treatment.
Find out more about watch and wait
Your doctor or nurse examines you at each appointment. They ask how you are feeling, whether you have had any symptoms or side effects, and if you are worried about anything. You might also have tests at some visits.
You might have:
blood tests
a bone marrow test
How often you see your specialist depends on:
whether you are having treatment
how you are feeling
the stage of your CLL
You need to see your doctor regularly, maybe weekly or monthly, if you are having treatment.
If you are not having any treatment, you see your doctor less often. The time between check ups will gradually get longer if everything is going well. You might only need to see your doctor once a year if your leukaemia is very stable.
You usually go to the haematology or cancer clinic if you have had targeted drugs, immunotherapy or chemotherapy.
Contact your doctor or specialist nurse if you have any concerns. You should also contact them if you notice any new symptoms between appointments. You don’t have to wait until your next visit.
You might see your GP at your GP surgery if they are looking after your care.
Some people find that a watch and wait approach makes them anxious. It can be particularly worrying in the run up to check up appointments. But other people feel relieved that they don't need treatment just yet. And they feel able to carry on with work or carry on with other plans.
If you are feeling anxious about CLL, or your treatment, it can help to tell someone close to you how you’re feeling. Sharing your worries can mean they don’t seem so overwhelming. Many people find it helpful to have counselling during or after cancer treatment.
Read about counselling and how to find a counsellor
You can also find people to share experiences with by using our online forum, Cancer Chat.
Last reviewed: 19 Sept 2024
Next review due: 19 Sept 2027
If you have very early stage CLL you may not need treatment straight away.
Your doctor can usually diagnose CLL by doing a number of checks on your blood sample cells. These are called immunophenotyping tests. You then may have other tests to find out more information about your CLL.
Coping with cancer can be difficult. Help and support are available. There are things you can do, people to help and ways to cope with a diagnosis of CLL.
There is support available to help you cope with a diagnosis of CLL.
CLL affects the white blood cells called lymphocytes. It tends to develop very slowly. Find out about the treatment you might need and much more.
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