CLL was a shocker to me, too. But, I'm in stage Zero where it's just watched. You may find out the same diagnosis.
What was not a surprise was my exposure to Agent Orange over 50 years ago as the probable cause. Keep your hope up as it can be controlled.
Stu in San Diego

Hi @mabfp3 It is always quite a shock when we get unexpected news from our doctors. I can empathize with what you’re going through. The positive note is that CLL generally is very slow to develop and it can be years before any action needs to be taken. I’ve posted some information below for you to get started.
Two sites are informational on CLL itself. It will provide you with details about the disease, how it’s diagnosed and treated.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/about/what-is-cll.html
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https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/symptoms-causes/syc-20352428
There are other members in our forum who also have CLL and have discussions about their experiences. I’ve posted the links to the conversations. Some of the are quite old but they are always relevant.
When you click on those links, there’s a box under the discussion heading that says Oldest to Newest. Click on there to take you to the newest, most current discussions. Feel free to post questions or comments to anything that grabs your interest. Hopefully you’ll get some insights about CLL.
Just remember, not everything in these discussions will be germane to your husbands case.
CLL~Newly diagnosed. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cll-newly-diagnosed/
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CLL~referral to CLL specialist. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cll-referral-to-cll-specialist/

You’ll get much more information at your husband’s appointment next Thursday. Write down any questions or concerns you have. I know how the white coat syndrome works…we forget what we want to say in detail once we’re in the office! Writing things down helps to stay on task and get the most out of your visit.
Here’s also a link to some good discussions on how to get the most out of your first appointment with a specialist.

Your Tips on How to Get Off to the Best Start with a New Specialist: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/your-tips-on-how-to-get-off-to-the-best-start-with-a-new-specialist/

I think you’ll find a lot of folks who have gone through similar experiences willing to offer encouragement and information in Mayo Clinic Connect. If you don’t mind, I’d like to follow along to see what your husband finds out at his appointment. Will you let me know?

Hi Lori, Thank you so much for your encouraging response to my post, along with the links that you sent me to help get us started. I will go to those links and take notes before my husband and I go to his appointment on Thursday. Hopefully, his numbers will be on the lower side. This diagnosis just came out of the blue for my husband. You are right……we were in shock! I will continue to take part in this wonderful site. Thank you for being a volunteer for so many people.

I was diagnosed with CLL 5 years ago, shortly after being diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. My rheumatologist sent me to a hematologist/oncologist for a consult after bloodwork showed a high wbc. Fortunately for me, my brother-in-law was diagnosed with CLL many years ago and is still doing fine, so I was not that frightened to learn I had it.
My white count has increased steadily, but I’m still at stage 0 and doing “wait and watch”. My oncologist said the white count can go up and down. He assured me that most people with CLL live normal lives, and if my situation should change, there are effective treatments and new ones in the pipeline. I see him twice a year.
So, please know your husband has every reason to be hopeful for a good outcome!

Hi @mabfp3, I hope you don't mind but I merged your discussion with this existing discussion that @kegraves started just a few weeks earlier. Her husband, too, has recently diagnosed with chronic lymphacytic leukemia. You can start to read from the beginning of the discussion here:

- CLL leukemia: Just diagnosed, what can be done? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cll-leukemia/

In addition to the great responses you got from @sandiegostu @loribmt and @annieg87, you'll now be introduced to more CLL-ers and caregivers like @teddytwo @kegraves @4romeosierra @hababeck @pieter1961 @carl50. So pull up a chair and join the widening circle.

I hope your appointment went well today.

My husband was diagnosed 20 years ago when he had blood work done for a simple cosmetic procedure on his face. To date he has had no treatment. He has blood work done every 4 months. His white count goes up and down but has never reached a level where intervention was required.
In 2014 he survived a very serious case of sepsis. The oncologist was amazed that at age, 73, and even with CLL, his immune system responded quite well to the infection. He’s still kickin it at age 82.