What causes hairy cell leukemia?

It’s not clear what causes hairy cell leukemia. Doctors know that cancer occurs when cells develop errors (mutations) in their DNA. In the case of hairy cell leukemia, mutations in the DNA cause your bone marrow stem cells to create too many white blood cells that don’t work properly.

What is the treatment for hairy cell leukemia?

Cladribine. Treatment for hairy cell leukemia typically begins with cladribine. You may receive either a continuous infusion of the drug or daily injections into a vein over several days. Most people who receive cladribine experience a complete remission that can last for several years.

Is vemurafenib chemotherapy?

Zelboraf® is the trade name for the generic chemotherapy drug vemurafenib. In some cases, health care professionals may use the generic name vemurafenib when referring to the trade name Zelboraf®. Drug type: Zelboraf® is a targeted therapy.

What organs does hairy cell leukemia affect?

Hairy cell leukemia most commonly affects the bone marrow and spleen. However, because HCL travels between the bone marrow, spleen, liver and lymph nodes via the bloodstream, it may potentially affect any part of the body that the blood circulates to.

Are there stages to hairy cell leukemia?

There is no standard staging system for hairy cell leukemia. The process used to find out if cancer has spread to other parts of the body is called staging. There is no standard staging system for hairy cell leukemia.

How much does vemurafenib cost?

Vemurafenib, the first drug in this class, costs $13,000 per month ($207,000 for a patient with median survival). Patients failing vemurafenib are often given ipilimumab, an immunomodulator, at $150,000 per course.

How will I feel after rituximab infusion?

After a Rituxan (rituximab) infusion you may experience certain side effects or adverse reactions that make you feel unwell. Rituxan affects different people in different ways, but the more common side effects include: Fever (high temperature), muscle aches, headaches and chills, which are signs of infection.

How long does it take to recover from hairy cell leukemia?

This is because it takes time for the disease to clear from the bone marrow. Recovery usually takes 3-6 weeks, but it depends on the treatment and the patient’s response.

What is the cost of Zelboraf?

The cost for Zelboraf oral tablet 240 mg is around $5,608 for a supply of 112 tablets, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans. Zelboraf is available as a brand name drug only, a generic version is not yet available.