Hairy Cell Leukemia – Symptoms and Causes

Overview

Hairy cell leukemia is a rare blood cancer that targets B cells. These white blood cells play a big role in the immune system. 

In hairy cell leukemia, abnormal B cells multiply too much and just don’t die off when they should. These cells pile up in the bone marrow, spleen, and blood. As they build up, they push out healthy blood cells and mess with normal production.

Signs and Symptoms

People with hairy cell leukemia might notice a handful of symptoms. The “hairy” part comes from how the cancer cells look under a microscope. Common symptoms pop up like:

• Feeling tired or weak most of the time
• Fever and infections that just keep coming back
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Pain or fullness in the belly (usually from an enlarged spleen)
• Weight loss that isn’t intentional
• Night sweats
• Swollen lymph nodes sometimes

A lot of folks notice their spleen feels bigger. This can make the left side of the belly uncomfortable.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms that stick around, especially:

• Unexplained fatigue for more than a few weeks
• Frequent infections or fevers
• Odd bleeding or bruising
• Belly pain or fullness
• Weight loss you can’t explain

Even though hairy cell leukemia often grows slowly, it’s important to get checked out. Your doctor can run blood tests and other exams to look for this rare leukemia.

Causes

Scientists still don’t totally get what causes hairy cell leukemia. This rare cancer affects B lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that fights off infections.

Research points to a few possible risk factors for developing hairy cell leukemia:

• Genetics: This might be involved, but there’s no clear inheritance pattern. Most people with this leukemia have a mutation in the BRAF gene.
• Environmental Exposures: Some studies connect it to radiation or chemical exposure.
  • Certain chemicals used in farming
  • Pesticides and herbicides
  • Solvents from industrial work
• Gender and Age: Men get it more than women, usually between 40 and 60 years old.

Nearly all cases of hairy cell leukemia show a specific mutation called BRAF V600E. This mutation messes with how cells grow and divide.

There aren’t any obvious lifestyle factors you can avoid to prevent hairy cell leukemia.

Complications

Hairy cell leukemia can cause more trouble than just the main diagnosis. Some complications show up as the disease moves along or as a side effect of treatment.

Low Blood Cell Counts

Most people with hairy cell leukemia end up with low blood cell counts. The abnormal cells crowd the bone marrow, leaving less space for normal blood cell production.

Low red blood cell counts (anemia) make you tired and weak. Not enough platelets (thrombocytopenia) can lead to easy bruising and bleeding. When white blood cells drop (neutropenia), your body has a harder time fighting infections.

Higher Cancer Risk

Having hairy cell leukemia raises your chances of getting other cancers. This might be because of changes in the immune system or as a result of leukemia treatments.

Some research shows a higher risk for:

• Certain solid tumors
• Other blood cancers
• Skin cancers

It’s smart to get regular cancer screenings if you have hairy cell leukemia. Catching secondary cancers early can make a big difference.