CLL

Wondering if anyone has cll or know anyone who has. We found out three years ago a day before Christmas that my father has it.  He is now 60 years old.  The docs haven't done anything for it because he white cell count isn't high enough.  He takes lots of vitamins every day, and so far that seems to help.  I just feel like there should be some thing more to do.  I guess from what we are told is that people can sometimes live for 13 years with this.  My father is my rock, and it makes me sad to even write this stuff.  

[Enoch Choi]

http://search.medhelp.org/Search/search2.jsp?hitsPerSite=0&lang=en&query=Chronic+Lymphocytic+Leukemia

are all of the articles available at medhelp on CLL

http://www.medhelp.org/NIHlib/GF-452.html

is a good overview of all leukemias.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/CLL/Patient

is a good overview of treatment options for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Enoch Choi, MD

[ziji]

I have it too. The good news is the field is moving fast. I personally feel 13 years should be more than enough for a successful treatment. Go to a major cancer center and have it rediagnosed (my choice was M D Anderson, which I have found very satisfactory). Has he had his genetic markers done? For instance, one marker would indicate an average life expectancy after diagnosis of 25 years--basically those people die of something else. A wonderful website called www.clltopics.org will tell you everything you need to know and keep you posted on new developments. It really does matter where you get your treatment done. Be sure his local oncologist is a hematologist. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is another great resource, with very good hotline, online talks by major researchers in CLL (like my doctor). LLS has a service called First Connection where your father can be connected with somebody like me who has the same diagnosis and stage. Hope this helps. Don't be so down, Laura. Of course, it is important that your father do everything he can to be healthy--work out, eat right, get rest, avoid stress, no smoking, etc.