CLL, Spontaneous Regression

Posted by gardeningjunkie @gardeningjunkie, Oct 4, 2023

Diagnosed with CLL at age 50 from blood tests and bone marrow my disease progressed slowly for 10 years without treatment.
After 10 years my blood counts started improving and 15 years after my diagnosis no signs of CLL were present in my blood.
This is referred to as a Spontaneous Regression and rare.
Now at age 75 next month, I've stayed regressed for 10 years but my oncologist won't call it a cure and I only need to have blood taken once a year.
Has anyone else experienced this or know of others that have regressed spontaneously?

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@marybird

I just came on this thread, and just wanted to mention that I know of one other person, the husband of a friend of mine, who also was diagnosed years ago with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, (CLL), stage 0. It was discovered when he had an elevated white blood cell count, with predominantly lymphocytes, and the cell markers typical for CLL were found on the cells in his blood and bone marrow. He never received treatment for the disease, but saw an oncologist every three months to monitor for any possible progression of the disease.

My friend told me that approximately 6 months ago, his oncologist told him he had no evidence of the disease any longer, a spontaneous remission, it would seem. My friend told me the oncologist commented that he had never seen that before. I don't know what he may have taken in the way of supplements or whatever that may have affected this result, but I know he and his wife eat healthy and exercise regularly.
So it may be a rare thing to be spontaneously "cured" of CLL, but it would seem it does happen sometimes. I'm happy for your recovery, what a relief that must be!

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Thanks for your info MarYbird. Are you on TV cooking show?

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