Hairy Cell Leukemia

Hairy cell leukemia is a rare cancer of the blood and bone marrow that tends to either get worse slowly over time or does not get worse at all. If the hairy cell leukemia does not grow or grows slowly, then it may not require treatment. The disease gets its name from the leukemia cells that look “hairy” when viewed under a microscope.

Typically, bone marrow produces blood stem cells that become either a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell. A lymphoid stem cell then becomes a lymphoblast cell before maturing into one of three types of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells. In hairy cell leukemia, too many blood stem cells become abnormal lymphocytes, also called leukemia cells. These leukemia cells can build up in the blood and bone marrow leaving less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets, which can lead to infection, anemia, and cause a person to bleed more easily. Additionally, some of the leukemia cells may collect in the spleen and cause it to swell.

The National Cancer Institute estimates that around 1,200 to 1,300 cases of hairy cell leukemia are diagnosed each year in the United States.

Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment (PDQ®)

Source: National Cancer Institute