I was diagnosed with CLL in 2019 just before covid hit. I had swollen lymph nodes along my collar bone which I thought were just swollen glands. I'd had them quite a while before one seemed to grow a little which made me think I should really have them checked.
After a biopsy, to my great distress it came back as CLL. I was just told not to worry and carry on as normal. This was fine for a while until the worry really got on top of me and I ended up having treatment for my mental health.
I finally pulled my head back together and got a handle on the situation. I'm now 51 and refuse to let this get the better of me again. I see a haematologist every six month's for a full blood check up, but as of yet I receive no treatment or medication, and apart from the same swollen lymph nodes and a lowish white blood cell count, I'm absolutely fine and carry on with life as normal, although now if there's something I want to do I just do it. The CLL has actually given me a new lease on life and my mental health has never been better or my head clearer.
It is definitely scary being told you have Leukaemia, but thankfully CLL is one that can be lived with until old age takes it's toll.
I'm really hoping I can hang around to see my two teenage daughter's have families of their own and I get to enjoy it with them.
I found CLL scary as hell, but I don't have the luxury of curling up into a ball and letting it defeat me. As hard as it can be we just need to keep putting one foot in front of the other and enjoy every minute we're given.