Hairy cell leukaemia

HCL is a rare form of leukaemia and accounts for only 2% of all leukaemias diagnosed.

HCL is more common in men than women and usually occurs in middle age (the median age of onset is 50). It does not occur in children and is very rare in adolescents.

The causes of HCL remain unknown but it is thought to result from damage to one or more of the genes that normally controls blood cell development. We do know that it is not contagious or inherited or passed down through our genes.

Because HCL develops slowly many people don’t have any symptoms, particularly in the early stages. The disease is usually picked up during a routine blood test.

Other people may go to see their GP because they have some troubling symptoms of their disease. Symptoms arise from the increasing number of abnormal blood cells in the bone marrow and blood, and the decreasing number of normal blood cells. Possible symptoms may include:

• anaemia, due to a lack of red cells causing persistent tiredness, dizziness, paleness, or shortness of breath when physically active
• frequent or repeated infections and slow healing, due to a lack of normal white blood cells
• pain or discomfort under the ribs on the left side, due to an enlarged spleen
• painless swelling of the lymph nodes (glands) in your neck, under your arms or in your groin. This is usually a result of lymphocytes accumulating in these tissues.

Some of the symptoms described above may also be seen in other illnesses, including viral infections. So, most people with these symptoms don’t have leukaemia. However, it is important to see your doctor if you have any unusual symptoms, or symptoms that persist much longer than expected so that you can be examined investigated properly.