Hairy cell leukemia is uncommon in children. It normally affects men more than women. The age for diagnosis is 55 years of age. HCL is an unusual cancer of the blood.
Hairy cell leukemia is a blood cancer in which white blood cells are effected; white blood cells begin to look "hairy" because projections begin to grow from them. Victims of the disease are more prone to bruising, bleeding, sweating, fatigue, a loss of appetite, weakness, swollen lymph glands, weight loss, and resurfacing infections and fevers. HCL has no known cause but generally affects more men than women and people around the age of 55. Typically, patients with HCL have a life expectancy of an addition ten years after they have been diagnosed, making it fatal.
any age. most popular in people over the age of sixty.
Mostly the young.
The average age of a person diagnosed with leukemia is around 65 years old. However, leukemia can occur at any age, including in children and young adults.
they can start gettin hairy armpits like at 10,11,12,13 years old somewhere round there. that's when about every thing starts gettin hairy
DefinitionHairy cell leukemia (HCL) is a rare cancer of the blood. It affects B cells, a type of white blood cell (lymphocyte).Alternative NamesLeukemic reticuloendotheliosis; HCL; Leukemia - hairy cellCauses, incidence, and risk factorsHCL is caused by the abnormal growth of B cells. The cells can look "hairy" under the microscope because they have fine projections coming from their surface.HCL can lead to low numbers of normal blood cells.The cause of this disease is unknown. It affects men more often than women. The average age of onset is 55. Hairy cell leukemia is rare.SymptomsEasy bruising or bleedingExcessive sweating (especially at night)FatigueFeeling full after eating only a small amountRecurrent infections and feversSwollen lymph glandsWeaknessWeight lossSigns and testsDuring a physical exam, the doctor may be able to feel a swollen spleen or liver. An abdominal CT scan may be done to confirm this swelling.A complete blood count shows low levels of white and red blood cells as well as platelets.Blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy can detect hairy cells. Flow cytometry or a test called TRAP can confirm the cancer diagnosis.TreatmentTreatment may not be needed for the early stages of this disease. Some patients may need an occasional blood transfusion.If treatment is needed because of very low blood counts, a variety of chemotherapy drugs can be used. A drug called interferon is also used. In most cases, chemotherapy can relieve the symptoms of the disease for many years. (When the signs and symptoms go away, you are said to be in remission.) Interferon can relieve symptoms but is unlikely to lead to remission.Removing the spleen may improve blood counts, but is unlikely to cure the disease. Antibiotics can be used to treat infections. People with low blood counts will receive growth factors and, possibly, transfusions.Expectations (prognosis)Newer chemotherapy treatments have greatly improved the survival of patients with hairy cell leukemia. Most patients with hairy cell leukemia can expect to live 10 years or longer with the disease.ComplicationsThe low blood counts caused by hairy cell leukemia can lead to infections, fatigue, and excessive bleeding.Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if you have significant bleeding. Also call if you have signs of infection, such as a persistent fever, cough, or general ill feeling.PreventionThere is no known way to prevent this disease.ReferencesGoldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: pp.1403-1404.
She died of leukemia at age 58.
Cancer, Leukemia to be exact...at the age of 16
She died of leukemia at age four.
at the age of three she died from leukemia
No, human stem cell transplants are used for their multipotency (they can become any type of cell). This does not reverse the telomere lost during cell division of other cells, which is typically used to determine biological age and potential longevity. Typically, stem cell transplants are used to combat a specific deficiency in an individual, such as Leukemia.