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@loribmt he has blood test every month now and CT every 6 month. I asked for PT scan but his hematologist said he does not need one even though his lymph’s are enlarged.

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Replies to "@loribmt he has blood test every month now and CT every 6 month. I asked for..."

@sveta25 It sounds like you’re very frustrated with your husband’s hematologist that they are not doing enough to treat your husband’s CLL.

The continuing weight loss is concerning and having a blood cancer can contribute to this. That was my first, but unrecognized clue at the time of my diagnosis. Cancer cells demand more energy than healthy cells, so the body may burn more calories at rest than normal. Cancer cells also release substances that affect how the body uses calories from food. So that can lead to weight loss.
However as @normahorn mentioned maybe it’s not due to his CLL. Is your husband just not feeling well, apprehensive about his diagnosis so he’s not eating as much? Have you noticed a change in your husband’s diet or eating habits since his diagnosis? Just tossing those ideas out for thought.

A PET scan, from my understanding, isn’t routinely used for CLL patients. CT scans are used to check progress of disease or to see how well treatments are working. Your husband is still in the watchful waiting/active surveillance period with no treatment yet.
His doctor is requesting CT scans every 6 months to check for potential progress of the disease along with his monthly blood checks. Often, until CLL meets certain parameters such as pronounced symptoms, which your husband is having with fatigue and weight loss, or elevated lymphocytes in lab results. treatments don’t commence.

There may also be a hesitation in starting treatment to weigh benefits against possible side effects. Some side effects associated with medications such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, low blood counts, hair loss, anxiety, depression, etc., may be worse that the milder symptoms experienced during the active surveillance stage. As I found out myself, as we age, our bodies don’t metabolize or process/eliminate drugs as well as when we were younger so it becomes hard on the organs. All things his doctor may be considering before placing your husband on a treatment plan.

So gosh, I just don’t know what to tell you except to have another consultation with his oncologist. Make a list of questions and concerns so that you can go right down the list! My doctors appreciated having lists and didn’t mind answering my and my husband’s questions at all. It gave us a clearer picture of the whats and whys of my treatment along with letting my doctors know my concerns. We have greater understandings between us when the cards were all laid on the table, so to speak. It’s ok to ask questions.
You might ask if there’s any reason he shouldn’t start treatment if it could help with the symptoms.

Another option…have you considered a 2nd opinion?