What a coincidence

[june65]

I have just been diagnosed with CLL, I am at a loss to understand this as my husband has had the condition for about 9 years. Has anyone else had this experience, it seems very unusual for both of us to have the same illness. My husband was diagnosed when he was 59 and didn't need chemo until 5 years later, he has been good for about 4 years but his white blood count has started to rise again recently. I was recently diagnosed following a routine blood test and find it hard to get my head around.

[Newdawn Administrator]

Hi June,

You must feel devastated at being diagnosed with the same condition as your husband and totally baffled too as to how this could be so! We hear about familial links to CLL but not in married couples. Unless there's an environmental connection, it sounds like this is just incredibly bad luck and coincidence. Presumably you've mentioned this to your consultant or intend to?

I'm sorry I have no clever answers for you and can only say I understand how devastating this must be. You'll certainly be approaching your own diagnosis with more knowledge than most for all the wrong reasons.

Stay strong and support each other. It must be a terrible blow for your husband too because this is the last thing he'd want to be able to share with you.

I'm not sure if anyone on here has heard of this happening in couples with no blood connection?

Sending best wishes to you both and please let us know how you are managing.

Newdawn

[june65 in reply to Newdawn]

Thank you.

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

There is a couple in the US who both have CLL. Not usual, but it can happen.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to MsLockYourPosts]

Tends to be marriages with Ashkenazi Jewish ethnicity, perhaps... I knew a couple in Poland a number of years ago, and also the couple PK mentioned...

[MsLockYourPosts Passed Volunteer]

There is a couple in the US who both have CLL. Not usual, but it can happen.

[pitbull]

Yes I seem to recall meeting someone at the Southampton CLLSA gathering who had CLL and his wife also had either CLL or AML.

Sorry to hear your news June but keep strong and fight it together.

Kirk

[june65 in reply to pitbull]

Thank you.

[sumok]

as my husband's primary support through his CLL experience, i can imagine how you must be reeling from this coincidental diagnosis. i am sending my warmest thoughts your way, june65.

[june65 in reply to sumok]

Thanks

[june65]

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts. I have just realised that when my husband was diagnosed 10 years ago we had a furniture restoration business and while my husband used chemicals on the pieces of furniture I did not get involved with this side of the business but I did handle recently restored pieces so maybe this could be one reason for us both to get the same diagnosis even if it is 10 years apart.

[june65]

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts. I have just realised that when my husband was diagnosed 10 years ago we had a furniture restoration business and while my husband used chemicals on the pieces of furniture I did not get involved with this side of the business but I did handle recently restored pieces so maybe this could be one reason for us both to get the same diagnosis even if it is 10 years apart.