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Diagnosing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) involves a series of blood tests, and sometimes a bone marrow biopsy, which shows if you have cancer. The biopsy gives details about the type and subtype of cancer you have.
Take Charge of Your Health
Talk to your primary care provider if you have symptoms that you think may be chronic lymphocytic leukemia. UW Medicine Primary Care can help you get started. Learn about Fred Hutch's relationship with UW Medicine.
CLL Diagnosis at Fred Hutch
When you come to Fred Hutch Cancer Center, an experienced hematopathologist looks carefully at your blood and marrow samples under a microscope. They can see important details by carefully studying your cells.
We check and confirm your cancer type and the molecular features of your subtype. We also look for factors that tell us if your CLL is likely to get worse (called high-risk disease).
If you were first diagnosed with CLL outside of Fred Hutch, our hematopathologists may run more tests on your tissue samples to confirm your diagnosis or look for features of your disease that matter for your care.
Tests to Diagnose CLL
If your physician thinks you may have CLL, you will likely have a complete blood count (CBC) test and potentially other blood tests done. Learn about the different blood tests and imaging tests used to help stage CLL.
Planning Your Personalized CLL Treatment
After confirming the diagnosis, you may have additional tests to figure out the stage of your CLL, or how much it is affecting your body.
It’s important to find out details about your CLL. This helps your physician predict how your disease might behave, if you need treatment now and which treatments are most likely to work for you.
Why Choose Fred Hutch for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Care
Many people with CLL do well without treatment for years. But in some cases, getting treatment right away is essential. To protect your health, it’s important to work with CLL experts who know how to get you the right care soon after diagnosis. We understand the complex details that go into planning the right approach for each person, like whether you need treatment at all, and if so, what kinds of treatment you need and when. Our deep experience means the best care for you.