Leukemia is the term for cancer that starts in white blood cells. Coughing is a symptom of some types of leukemias, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
CLL can lead to a dry cough if the condition grows and enters the lungs. However, this
A cough may also occur as a side effect of chemotherapy, or it might indicate the development of a
CLL is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults, with an estimated
This article discusses coughing as a symptom of leukemia. It also looks at the other possible causes of coughing and some of the treatment options.
![A person coughing who may have CLL.](http://i0.wp.com/post.medicalnewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/10/lymphocytic_leukemia_GettyImages1190937342_Header-1024x575.jpg?w=1155&h=1528)
Coughing can be a symptom of other types of leukemia, as well as CLL. These include:
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia
Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia is a rare blood cancer that mostly affects young children. It involves the uncontrolled growth of monocytes, which are immature white blood cells. A dry cough is a possible symptom of juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a rapidly growing cancer that affects immature lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that play a role in the immune system.
ALL has several subtypes, including T-cell ALL. T-cell ALL
Acute myeloid leukemia
Acute myeloid leukemia starts in the bone marrow but typically moves into the blood. It may spread to other organs, such as lymph nodes and the liver. It can increase a person’s vulnerability to coughs and colds, which may last longer than usual.
CLL typically causes coughing due to:
Lung involvement
CLL is a cancerous blood condition that increases the number of B lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that makes antibodies to fight infections. However, CLL causes the production of abnormal B lymphocytes, which doctors refer to as leukemia cells.
Leukemia cells are ineffective in fighting infections compared with healthy B lymphocytes. Their growth also leaves less room for healthy lymphocytes, which increases the person’s vulnerability to infections.
CLL advances slowly, and the leukemia cells can spread to various body parts, including the spleen, lymph nodes, and lungs. According to an
A secondary cancer
Although treatment
Chemotherapy
Some chemotherapy drugs for treating CLL may cause lung toxicity, according to
A person should speak with a doctor if they experience:
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- a persistent cough that lasts for weeks
- wheezing
- fever
The treatment options for CLL will depend on the severity of the disease, as well as the person’s overall health.
Asymptomatic CLL
Asymptomatic CLL causes no symptoms. Rather than treating the disease, doctors may advise watchful waiting while they monitor how it progresses.
Symptomatic CLL
The treatment for people with symptoms from CLL could include:
- More watchful waiting: Doctors may continue monitoring the condition if the symptoms are mild and the disease is progressing slowly.
- Targeted therapy: This involves medications that target specific cancerous cells, such as ibrutinib (Imbruvica).
- Immunotherapy: These medications support the immune system to fight leukemia. One example is lenalidomide (Revlimid), which people may sometimes receive in combination with rituximab (Rituxan).
- Bone marrow transplant: Doctors may suggest a bone marrow transplant to replace damaged cells with healthy blood-forming stem cells.
Recurrent CLL
Doctors may use a combination of treatments to treat persistent cases of CLL. These treatments may include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and bone marrow transplants. A doctor might also suggest radiation therapy.
Another option is CAR T-cell therapy, which involves adding chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to T cells in a person’s body, helping the immune system recognize and attack cancerous cells.
Many of the possible causes of a chronic cough are more common than cancer. Research from
- Viral infections of the upper respiratory tract: The common cold may cause a dry cough that lingers after other symptoms disappear.
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): This condition typically causes heartburn and regurgitation. GERD can also cause a chronic cough.
- Upper airway cough syndrome: This can occur from postnasal drip or irritation of the upper airway structures that stimulate the cough reflex.
- Cough variant asthma: Inflammation in this condition causes an ongoing cough that usually occurs at night.
- Lung diseases: A chronic cough is a symptom of several lung conditions, including emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and pulmonary fibrosis.
- Side effects from angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: ACE inhibitors relax the blood vessels to lower blood pressure.
- Sleep apnea: This condition involves episodes in which breathing stops during sleep.
- Psychogenic or unexplained: These are coughs that occur despite there being no evidence of physical disease.
A chronic, dry cough is not necessarily due to CLL or any other type of leukemia. It may stem from a range of other causes, such as emphysema or a cold.
People with CLL may experience a cough from chemotherapy treatment, leukemia cells spreading to the lungs, or a secondary form of cancer. The treatment of CLL may include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or a bone marrow transplant.