Diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)

@zephyr, welcome. You mention the Mayo Clinic study conducted for CLL. You may be interested in reading this related discussion with several references to the study:
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Mayo study on green tea extract (EGCG) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/chronic-lyphocetic-leukemia/

In short, a green tea extract has shown some promise in initial clinical trials for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Laboratory research determined that a compound in green tea extract, called EGCG, can kill chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells. A study of people with early-stage chronic lymphocytic leukemia found that EGCG in pill form reduced some signs of the disease. But green tea trials haven't been conclusive, and this subject requires more study before doctors can agree on the merits of this treatment.

Watch and wait, or as I prefer to say, active surveillance, is a common treatment approach for small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) as it is a slow growing cancer. Zephyr, how are you feeling about this approach? Did you and your oncologist discuss signs to watch for and to report?

<p>Hello 55 year old male - was very healthy 2018- a bit before 2018 I started having problems like not feeling well a sense of impending doom that happened all at once - would have heart palpitations- legs were swelling- obviously I was alarmed- it just progressed over the months - I went to emergency rooms over and over doctors anyone that would listen- in 2019 I started having cognitive issues not remembering things and would not understand what was going on at times - over 30 er visits by ambulance or in person before I was unable to drive- was assured that my heart was in great shape-it got to the point that the hospital in pink slipped me bc I was making up sickness- in the mental hospital they said my heart was fine bc their doctors did exams ekgs and tests - they locked me up 2 times at that mental hospital- the police said if i called 911 again for chest pain I would be arrested at this point- this went on over 2 years - lost everything- couldn’t work or do anything but keep trying to find the answers- in October of 2020 I could barely walk and police didn’t scare me maybe jail had doctors that could help so I kept calling 911 - in the middle of October 2020 they took me to the ER and may prayers were answered- I knew I was dying bc of what was happening I just didn’t know why - the woman doctor actually listened to me and she said I’m going to keep u and run a echo of your heart to just check it out - next morning they did the test and she came in and said u have to go to intensive care I’m really sorry but u are in end stage heart failure- she said most people ejection fraction rate in their heart is 55-70 percent and my heart was at 16 percent- the next month was a blurr in the hospital- I got out very sick and my apartment complex towed my car and filed for eviction bc I could not clean- I had to go to court and I had media there to document this - the judge said I could stay that it wasn’t my fault- my ejection rate is 50 percent now - but now I have a blood problem- anyone familiar with CLL - SLL lymphocyte over 4000-6000 for almost 2 years - smudge cells on lymphocytes - I did go to a cancer center they did blood flow cytometry but nothing diagnosed the doc said bone marrow but that was in the middle of the heart stuff -</p>

Hi @bobcat277, you've had a long and arduous road to get the medical care you need. It sounds like your heart condition is the main health priority. Now you are looking to connect with others familiar with SLL (small lymphocytic lymphoma) and CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia). for this reason, I moved your question to this existing discussion:
- Diagnosed with small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/sll-and-green-tea-extract/

Fellow members @mmpopovich @zephyr @tatayababa @jefferdw9 have also talked about SLL/CLL and elevated lymphocyte counts.

Bobcat, it is not uncommon for SLL to be asymptomatic. Do you have any symptoms related to your diagnosis?