Anyone have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)?

Posted by hikerny @hikerny, Apr 1 12:40pm

Any individuals with a CLL diagnosis?
Cliff

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@lepkowicz

Thank you I have CLL and the Oncologist spent an hour explaining that I’m ok and not to worry as it is slow growing and need no medication etc..will check my blood work and keep a watch on me…
I know how you are helping me and others do I thank you !
Pat Lepkowicz

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Good morning, Pat. Your doctor sounds like a ‘keeper’! It makes such a difference when you have a doctor who takes the time to explain the situation, answers questions and gives reassurance that you’re on their radar should something pop up. My oncologists/hematologists are like that too. I think their understanding and concern gives us the sense that we’re free to move forward, to enjoy our lives and to not focus on the diagnosis. We’ll be taken care of ‘if’ anything needs tending in the future.

Are you still feeling experiencing the chills you were having?

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@loribmt

Welcome to Connect, @jerseyjim13. I think most everyone worries about developing the big “C” at some point in time, me included. CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, statistically remains one of the more treatable forms of cancer. As you’ve already found, many people who develop CLL don’t require treatment for several years and when/if they do, treatments have a high rate of success.

Very well health.com
https://www.verywellhealth.com/cll-prognosis-5211991
Hopefully you’ve read through some of the positive comments in this current discussion you’re following. More conversations can be found by typing in CLL in the top search bar. I’d posted this comment a couple days ago to newly diagnosed CLL member @hikerny. It’s filled with other links for information and discussion topic.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1277732/
As for worrying about the future?! Whether we have cancer or not, none of us can know what our future holds. So make the best of every day that you’re on the planet and try not to dwell on ‘what if’ thoughts.

One of my favorite quotes (unknown author):
Fear does not stop death. It stops life.
And worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles.
It takes away today’s peace.

So try to focus on enjoying your life and living each day to the fullest. ☺️
How frequently will you be having lab work?

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Thank you I have CLL and the Oncologist spent an hour explaining that I’m ok and not to worry as it is slow growing and need no medication etc..will check my blood work and keep a watch on me…
I know how you are helping me and others do I thank you !
Pat Lepkowicz

REPLY
@normahorn

It is highly possible that I misread this abstract. I will let you read it yourself and see if you draw the same conclusion that I had.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32407752/

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Thanks for the link. I think it is good as a cautionary warning but too many unknowns and too small group to draw accurate conclusions.

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@jerseyjim13

I was just diagnosed on Tuesday, 4 days ago. The big "C" has always been a fear of mine and now I have to worry about the possibility of increasing cancer in other organs. Now that really scares me even though CLL is at the early stage and needs no treatment at this time. That means I have to worry about the future.

Jump to this post

Welcome to Connect, @jerseyjim13. I think most everyone worries about developing the big “C” at some point in time, me included. CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, statistically remains one of the more treatable forms of cancer. As you’ve already found, many people who develop CLL don’t require treatment for several years and when/if they do, treatments have a high rate of success.

Very well health.com
https://www.verywellhealth.com/cll-prognosis-5211991
Hopefully you’ve read through some of the positive comments in this current discussion you’re following. More conversations can be found by typing in CLL in the top search bar. I’d posted this comment a couple days ago to newly diagnosed CLL member @hikerny. It’s filled with other links for information and discussion topic.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1277732/
As for worrying about the future?! Whether we have cancer or not, none of us can know what our future holds. So make the best of every day that you’re on the planet and try not to dwell on ‘what if’ thoughts.

One of my favorite quotes (unknown author):
Fear does not stop death. It stops life.
And worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles.
It takes away today’s peace.

So try to focus on enjoying your life and living each day to the fullest. ☺️
How frequently will you be having lab work?

REPLY

I was just diagnosed on Tuesday, 4 days ago. The big "C" has always been a fear of mine and now I have to worry about the possibility of increasing cancer in other organs. Now that really scares me even though CLL is at the early stage and needs no treatment at this time. That means I have to worry about the future.

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@minglu

Double thanks as I have dry eyes, as well. Since I learned that I’m allergic to dust, no eye infections but more incentive to keep up my nightly eye routine.🙏🏾

Jump to this post

It is highly possible that I misread this abstract. I will let you read it yourself and see if you draw the same conclusion that I had.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32407752/

REPLY
@normahorn

You might want to discuss with your oncologist what to be alert to with regard to immunity. I am beginning to track down one item now. I was given a script and sample packs by an ophthalmologist of an eye drop that is an immunosuppressive agent. Thankfully I did not fill the expensive script until I saw if the sample packs of drops help. Now to check with my oncologist if they do help with "dry eye". I had come across a study that the life expectancy if someone with CLL gets an eye infection is measured in months.

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Double thanks as I have dry eyes, as well. Since I learned that I’m allergic to dust, no eye infections but more incentive to keep up my nightly eye routine.🙏🏾

REPLY

You might want to discuss with your oncologist what to be alert to with regard to immunity. I am beginning to track down one item now. I was given a script and sample packs by an ophthalmologist of an eye drop that is an immunosuppressive agent. Thankfully I did not fill the expensive script until I saw if the sample packs of drops help. Now to check with my oncologist if they do help with "dry eye". I had come across a study that the life expectancy if someone with CLL gets an eye infection is measured in months.

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@normahorn

You also had this before your diagnosis and went about your business in your normal manner. I would suggest returning to that unless you encounter some new problems. One change is mentioning having CLL when filling out medical questionnaires. My oncologist did stress keeping up my immunity via vaccines.

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The difference is that before, I ignored people when they said I pushed myself too hard. I didn’t listen to the fatigue or them. Now, my question to those of you who have been dealing with this for a while, does it make a difference to rest or is there no telling what causes the stages to advance?

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@minglu

I was diagnosed in March. So far, I know that I am Stage 1, but many of my blood numbers are in “normal range.” The Kaiser protocol appears to be “see you in a year” to check again. My wife got the oncologist to agree to checking in six months. Slowly, that punched in the gut feeling is being replaced but it all still feels overwhelming. I remind myself since it’s chronic, I need to find a new balance and that will take time. I want to be angry with someone, but I’m getting used to “sh#@ happens!” So, I’m checking out my holistic approach options in S.F, CA Bay Area to help my body be the best it can be and finding my way back to those activities I can still do, if I rest when there’s a need.
One curious thing. Did anyone else discover that their blood had been routinely being checked for leukemia for several years? Most of my tests said that there were no trends because this was the first test. But one said “Normal” for several years and only this time said “Leukemia.” (I just realized that they could have been checking for anything. Okay, still a mystery, but somehow an easier one to take. They could have been checking to see if hyperparathyroid condition had returned.). Back to waiting for my oncologist to decipher all the blood tests results that came in this week.

Jump to this post

You also had this before your diagnosis and went about your business in your normal manner. I would suggest returning to that unless you encounter some new problems. One change is mentioning having CLL when filling out medical questionnaires. My oncologist did stress keeping up my immunity via vaccines.

REPLY
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