Prognosis for hairy cell leukaemia

Prognosis means what is likely to happen in the future. It is a way of saying what the most likely outcome will be, based on what has happened to other people with hairy cell leukaemia.

Hairy cell leukaemia is a chronic condition that doesn’t go away. But it does develop slowly, and most people still have a normal life expectancy. Treatment is usually very successful at controlling hairy cell leukaemia.

After diagnosis, many people with hairy cell leukaemia need some treatment to put the cancer into remission (where there’s no sign of active cancer). Once in remission, most people with hairy cell leukaemia can get on with their lives.

Remission

People with hairy cell leukaemia often go through long periods of remission. Remissions can last over 10 years. During a remission, you won’t need any cancer treatment.

At some point though, the cancer does come back in most people (known as relapse). If you relapse, you’ll have more treatment, which can put the cancer into remission again.

Everyone’s prognosis is individual. If you want to know more about your prognosis, your hospital team are the best people to ask, as they know you and your individual situation.

If you look up statistics, be aware these are often not explained fully and can be misleading. Many people say that statistics are unhelpful, but if you do want to look at them, you should always discuss them with your doctor, who can explain what they really mean for you.

If you hear or read something about your prognosis that you don’t understand or that worries you, speak to our Support Service on 0808 2080 888 or [email protected]