When diagnosed with leukemia, the most common type of blood cancer, one might assume treatment must begin immediately. However, not all leukemias require such urgency. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is one such exception.

Some think CLL is a rapidly progressing blood cancer, so treatment must begin immediately upon diagnosis.

However, Professor Byun Ja-min of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Seoul National University Hospital said that such proposition is “misconception,” at the Korean Blood Disease and Cancer Association (KBDCA)'s YouTube channel.

“It's called ‘chronic’ lymphocytic leukemia because it's a disease that worsens very slowly,” Professor Byun said. “Rather than starting treatment immediately, we recommend beginning treatment after symptoms appear.”

In other words, if there are no symptoms of blood cancer or significant changes in blood counts, treatment isn't necessary, and regular outpatient monitoring is sufficient.

So, when do CLL patients actually begin treatment?

Professor Byun explained, “Treatment for CLL typically starts when symptoms appear, such as anemia, thrombocytopenia, enlarged lymph nodes, or an enlarged spleen.”

Why is treatment initiated only when these symptoms appear?

Professor Byun stated, “The reason is that it is a disease that generally responds well to treatment, so even if treatment begins after symptoms appear, it can be managed effectively.”

Is CLL a cancer that commonly occurs in younger people? No, it is not.

Professor Byun said, “The average age at diagnosis for chronic lymphocytic leukemia is 70 to 72 years old. It is a disease that develops with age.”

Then, do people with chronic lymphocytic leukemia die from the disease? Actually, no.

"The average age at death for CLL patients is 82 years old,” Byun said. “This is not significantly different from Korea's average life expectancy of 83.4 years. It can be said that death directly caused by chronic lymphocytic leukemia itself is extremely rare."