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Multidisciplinary Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a cancer of the B-lymphocytes that may be found in the bone marrow, blood, lymph nodes, spleen and sometimes other organs. CLL is the most common leukemia in adults and accounts for one quarter of new leukemia cases annually. The average age at diagnosis is 70, and CLL is rarely seen in those under the age of 40. CLL is considered a chronic disease because it can persist for a long time and often reoccurs over the lifetime of the patient. A less commonly seen cancer, CLL accounts for 1.2% of all cancers. For 2018, the American Cancer Society estimates that the U.S. will see about 20,940 new cases of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

CLL is often slow growing or indolent and symptomless, and is typically found accidentally during routine blood tests. Depending on many factors, many patients are put on a "watch and wait" treatment approach and are followed by their hematologist/oncologist and primary care provider until symptoms become significant and require treatment. Many clinical trials are exploring the efficacy of starting treatment before symptoms present. Explore practical resources to implement in your cancer program or practice today.

For more information on this project, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.

 

Featured Publications

Are We Speaking the Same Language? Insights from a Patient and Provider Survey on CLL

While treatment options have improved outcomes for patients with CLL, it is important to consider other aspects of the patient journey to gain insight as to how providers may better understand and serve their patients. ACCC conducted an educational initiative focused on gaining insights into the journey of patients with CLL by exploring conversations and perceptions of patients and providers across a broad spectrum of issues, including knowledge sharing and support on diagnosis and treatment, the use of telehealth, biomarkers, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disease management, and quality of life (QOL).

 

 

 

 

Multidisciplinary Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care: Quality Improvement Case Studies

Three ACCC Cancer Program Members were selected to participate in custom-tailored quality improvement workshops. This publication highlights the quality improvement projects the participating ACCC Cancer Program Members developed as a result of the workshops. Learn about the various efforts of each site to improve care for patients with CLL in their respective settings—and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thank you to the following ACCC Cancer Program Member sites for their participation:

  • The Outer Banks Hospital, Nags Head, NC
  • Billings Clinic Cancer Center, Billings, MT
  • The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH 
 

Multidisciplinary Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care: Models of Effective Care Delivery

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous disease, and a number of factors affect patients’ treatment options including age, overall health, whether the disease is high-risk for progression, and what symptom is being treated and why. This publication presents highlights of the current CLL treatment landscape and includes examples of effective delivery of patient-focused multidisciplinary care for patients with CLL across different care settings.

ACCC thanks the following Cancer Program Members for their contributions to this publication:

  • Self Regional Healthcare Cancer Center
    Greenwood, South Carolina
  • The University of Kansas Cancer Center
    Westwood, Kansas
  • Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center
    Las Vegas, Nevada

 

 

News & Media

CAR Therapy for Solid Tumors Draws Attention at Annual Cancer Conference
CURE, June 18, 2019

Multidisciplinary project aims to educate physicians, patients about best practices in CLL care
Healio.com, June 09, 2019

Our Partners

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Our Supporters

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This project is supported by Pharmacyclics and Janssen Oncology.