It's important that your doctor is experienced in treating patients with chronic leukemia or works in consultation with a chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) specialist. This type of specialist is called a hematologist oncologist.

1. Types of CLL Treatment
Current therapies do not offer patients a cure for CLL, but there are treatments that help manage the disease. Doctors use several types of approaches and treatment for adults with CLL, some at different stages:
__Watch and wait
__Chemotherapy and drug therapy
__Radiation therapy
__Splenectomy
__Clinical trials can involve therapy with new drugs and new drug combinations or new approaches to stem cell transplantation.

2. Finding the Best Treatment Approach
The treatment your doctor recommends is based on several factors, including:

Your CLL stage
Your physical exam and lab test results
Your overall health

The goals of CLL treatment are to:
__Slow the growth of CLL cells

__Provide long periods of remission (when there are no signs of CLL or you feel well enough to carry on your daily activities)

__Help you feel better if you have infections, fatigue or other symptoms

As you develop a treatment plan with your doctor, be sure to discuss:
__The results you can expect from treatment

__Potential side effects, including late-term effects and long-term effects

__The possibility of participating in a clinical trial, where you'll have access to advanced medical treatment that may be more beneficial to you than standard treatment.