Waldenstrom macroglobulinaemia
A rare condition which has features in common with an indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma and with multiple myeloma. The way the condition progresses is more like indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Watch and Wait, Watchful Waiting
Doctors often recommend a “Watch and wait” approach for those CLL patients found by chance or with asymptomatic stable disease as there is currently no evidence that treating patients leads to a better outcome in the long term.
White Blood Cells WBC Leucocytes
There are several different types of white cells in the blood. There are more of some types than others. They all play a part in the immune response – the response of the body to infection, or anything else the body recognises as foreign. These blood cells can be made very quickly and generally have a short life. Some only live for a few hours, others for a few days.
White blood cells are produced by the immune system to help defend the body against infection. They and their precursors are formed in the bone marrow and then travel through the blood to various parts of the body. There are several different types of white blood cells, the major ones being neutrophils (also called granulocytes), T-cells and B-cells.
They are part of the immune system. There are three main types:
- granulocytes, mainly consisting of neutrophils
- lymphocytes
- monocytes.
They are formed in the bone marrow and it is their uncontrolled production which leads to leukaemia.