Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) symptoms
This page tells you about the symptoms of chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia. You can use these links to go straight down to sections on
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) symptoms
About 1 in 4 people with chronic leukaemia won't have any symptoms at all. Chronic leukaemia may be diagnosed when a person has a routine blood test for something else. In chronic leukaemia symptoms tend to be mild at first and get worse slowly. You may feel as if you have the flu.
Common symptoms of CLL
Many of the symptoms listed below occur in CLL but are more likely to be caused by other illnesses
- Swollen lymph glands
- Abdominal discomfort
- Weight loss
- Bleeding or bruising
- Infections that will not get better
- Tiredness from a shortage of red blood cells (anaemia)
- Bone pain
- Night sweats
- Fever
If you have any of these symptoms you must have them checked by your GP. But remember, they can all be caused by other conditions. For example, everyone’s lymph glands swell up when they have a throat infection. Most people with these symptoms will not have CLL.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the About CLL section.
About 1 in 4 people with chronic leukaemia won't have any symptoms at all. Their chronic leukaemia may be diagnosed because they have a routine blood test for something else. In chronic leukaemia symptoms tend to be mild at first and get worse slowly. Many symptoms are vague. You may feel as if you had the flu.
Remember many people with CLL have no symptoms at first. Many of the symptoms listed below occur in CLL but are more likely to be caused by other illnesses. CLL may cause
- Swollen lymph glands
- Abdominal discomfort
- Weight loss
- Bleeding or bruising
- Infections that will not get better
- Tiredness from a shortage of red blood cells (anaemia)
- Bone pain
- Night sweats
- Fever
Swollen lymph glands or abdominal discomfort from an enlarged spleen
In CLL, you can have swollen glands (lymph nodes). The swollen glands are most often in your neck or under your arms. You may also get an enlarged spleen. The spleen is an organ on the left of your body, just under your ribs. If it becomes bigger than normal, it can be uncomfortable or painful. Your doctor may be able to feel that the spleen is enlarged.
Weight loss
CLL itself uses up energy that your body would otherwise use or store. So you may lose weight, even if you eat normally. An enlarged spleen may also increase the weight loss by squashing your stomach and making you feel full more quickly than usual. You may then eat less than normal.
Infections that will not get better
As the numbers of abnormal white blood cells rises, you may pick up infections more easily. This is because the abnormal white blood cells cannot fight off infection as well as healthy ones.
Bleeding or bruising
The extra white blood cells take up more space in the bone marrow as their numbers grow. There is not enough room for platelets to be made. These normally help to clot the blood, so you may have nosebleeds, unexplained bruising or unusually heavy periods. This is generally a later symptom of CLL, rather than an earlier one.
Anaemia
The lack of space in the bone marrow also interferes with the production of red blood cells. These normally help to carry oxygen around the body. If you do not have enough red blood cells, this is known as anaemia. You may feel breathless and tired. Again, this is generally a later symptom of CLL.
Bone pain
Sometimes people with chronic leukaemia get aches in their bones. This is because there are too many leukaemia cells in the bone marrow, causing pressure on nerves and giving pain.
If you have any of these symptoms you must have them checked by your GP. But remember, they can all be caused by other conditions. Everyone's lymph glands swell up when they have a throat infection for example. Most people with these symptoms will not have chronic leukaemia.
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