Welcome to Connect, @dhamra. We can drive ourselves crazy trying to figure out when, how, or why we’ve gotten a blood cancer. I’ve been there myself and frankly, it’s just better to accept that this is the new starting point and whatever happened in the past is inconsequential. Blood cancers can happen for any number of reasons and unless there is a strong defining moment such as a heavy toxin exposure for example, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly.

Since CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) is generally a very slowly developing type of leukemia, it is entirely possible you’ve had this progressing over several years. Many people who are diagnosed with CLL find out incidentally through routine blood work at an annual physical, totally unaware that there may have been issues brewing. It’s often years in the making before treatment is required and according to statistics, this is one of the more treatable forms of leukemia. Some blood conditions can take a little time and sleuthing to get to a diagnosis. So that’s where you are now and with this new diagnosis of CLL, your hematologist oncologist will be able to form a treatment plan to help keep your disease from progressing and hopefully have you feeling less symptomatic.

I’ve always felt that knowledge is power. To help you learn a little more about your CLL, here are a couple of informational articles you might find helpful.
The first is from Mayo Clinic
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352428
This, from verywellhealth.com
https://www.verywellhealth.com/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia-7551732#:~:text=Chronic%20lymphocytic%20leukemia%20%28CLL%29%20is%20a%20bone%20marrow,the%20worst%20symptoms%20at%20bay%20for%20many%20years.
What has your doctor discussed with you regarding possible treatment?