Early cases need only watchful waiting
Unless there is evidence of rapid progression of the disease, there is no need to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Treatment is one of the necessary yet torturing parts of cancer treatment and it is scientifically proven that avoiding it is a big positive. The reason behind this strategy is the fact that it is almost impossible to treat it without stem cell transplantation, and chemotherapy regimens are associated with multiple side effects. Furthermore, clinical trials have shown that there is no advantage either in the overall survival or quality of life if treatment is introduced early in the course of the disease.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia -or any other cancer- is not a thing you would wish upon your worst enemy. But everything is relative, and compared to other leukemias, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is the mildest, most tolerated type. This doesn’t mean that all cases are the same and don’t need treatment, especially because early progression of the disease can always occur. But, if you have CLL and your condition is stable, you are more likely to live for years before having to worry about chemotherapy or an early death.