Any members of tribe CLLers, here?

[YjbCLL]

I keep reading certain studies which identify Jews of Eastern European extraction as a risk group for CLL, but I have only met a few...I was curious if there were any fellow Yidden here in this forum.

Yossi

[canadagoose]

Me, and uncles on both my side and my husband. Familial and Eastern European.

[Cmayer99 in reply to canadagoose]

Both my mother and I have CLL. My mother's family came from Russia.

[Catskillady]

Shalom, Yossi! My mother's family, Jewish, came here from Russia and England and my father's family, also Jewish, came here from England and Germany. I had asked my oncologist if it is true that Jewish people from Eastern Europe are at higher risk of CLL and he said it is not true.

Good luck to you! Stay healthy!

[YjbCLL in reply to Catskillady]

My also Jewish oncologist wasn't aware of this despite their being 'more than several' studies published on this from major universities. Google 'Jews CLL'..

[AussieNeil Partner Administrator in reply to YjbCLL]

Here's a very good reference paper that shows that for CLL amongst Ashkenazi Jews, there's a mean annual age-adjusted incidence 4.3 per 100,000 person-years, which is among the highest reported prevalence of CLL. It's also several times that of Sephardic Jews: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/976...

And here's Chaya Venkat's blog, looking at whether ethnicity matters (and citing this paper) : updates.clltopics.org/1544-...

Neil

[RZ8983DV]

I am also Eastern European (Ashkenazi) Jewish. My father's family came from Lithuania and my mother's from Poland though have been in the UK over 150 years.As far as I am aware I am the only one in the family to have been diagnosed with CLL. It is true that CLL is more prevalent among Jews of Eastern European origin than other ethnic groups

[shoshanaz]

I'm Jewish, but can't blame the bloodline (I'm a ger). My family background, though is German and probably Eastern European, so there may be some crossover there.

[SandiC]

I am a member of the tribe... also, my father was diagnosed 5 years ago at 85. He passed at 90 in his sleep but not from the CLL. He was 11Q and I am complex karyotype headed by 11Q (pretty much everything except 17P and TP53).

[YjbCLL]

I appreciate everyone's input here. Thanks Aussie for the links to the published works. I just wanted to verify that this wasn't a figment of my imagination. I guess all those cousins marrying cousins in the shtetles (Jewish villages in the Pale of Settlement - for our Gentile brothers) had an impact. All the best for the new year and good health!

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to YjbCLL]

Here is the complete paper Neil mentioned previously...

nature.com/leu/journal/v12/...

Previously on HU

healthunlocked.com/cllsuppo...

[Annaryp]

My husband is Jewish Eastern European Family migrated from Russia we thin at turn of last century. Cousin also diagnosed on his side so maternal link possible. It seems that most closely knit ethnic groups carry a genetic trait that may evidence themselves in health issues. Be it cancer certain anemias etc. our adult children are hypersensitive to the potential familial relationship but have not done genetic testing since I am of Irish descent. And their insurance won't pay for it here in the US. Just an FYI. Hope you all have a good night. Be at peace

[StupidPlanet]

Russian Jewish heritage.

[cllady01 Former Volunteer]

Russian heritage with most likely lost Jewish connection because of fear in immigrating? Maternal Grandparents were Russian.

Do not truly know, but have to wonder.

[Stevenh58]

I am Jewish 58, male. My dad had cll at 80 always w/w. I was Dx stage 4 last dec had 4 rds of fcr. Last flow cytometry indicated CR. As far as I know I am Western European Jew but also have thalassemia which I am told is a mediteranian disease.