Treatment options in Germany?

[mantana]

My first post here!

Male, diagnosed with CLL ~9 months ago. Ultrasound check confirmed enlarged spleen and some nodes within my body (but not around neck/armpits), WBC around 28, up from 15 around 9 months ago. Not undergoing any treatment so far.

I currently live in Japan, but will be moving to Germany in the next few months.

Does anyone know what CLL treatment options are available in Germany?

[Canuck901]

You should see a CLL specialist in Germany , they will give you the best options

[mantana in reply to Canuck901]

I will stay in Japan if treatment options are not better in Germany...

I suspect they should be better in Germany, since CLL is such a rare disease in Japan, but... That's just a suspicion, and hence my question!

[AussieNeil Administrator in reply to mantana]

Germany has a very high international reputation in CLL, due to the work of the CLL Study Group, University of Cologne, headed by Dr Michael Hallek, who is responsible for the publication and updates of the iWCLL guide on the diagnosis and management of CLL. I would say that a move from Japan (where CLL is far more rare than in Western countries), would be an excellent move health wise.

Neil

[Hidden]

Hi mantana,

I live in Germany and I'm treated in one of the specialist University hospitals. There is an excellent network of CLL specialists linked to the latest development and trials. Assuming you have health insurance, there is little cost to the patient.

Hopefully, you do not need treatment immediately and would be placed on "wait and watch".

Best wishes, Peter

[Germanguest]

Hi Mantana, there are many excellent options, for example the team of Prof. Hallek in Colone. Maybe there is no need to move, i know that in Colone they have and treat patients from all over the world.

In every case it does make sense to have geman health insurence.

And another advice: there is a german online Cll-community, visit leukaemie-online.de/diskuss.... Good Luck!

[Germanguest]

I forgot, the treatment will depend on your individual cll-status and process. When your doctor proposes a special tretment you always have the oportynity to ask for a second opinion.

[janvog]

From observing German TV and media every day , I conclude that CLL care is on the level of USA. All the medical staff in Germany speak English and the German Oncologists and Hematologists all attend specialists meetings in the USA. All CLL medicine and therapy which is available in the USA seems also available in Germany. There are more hospital beds per capita in Germany then in the USA. The COVID defense in Germany has been excellent and the infection danger is less then in USA. Insurance is a complex issue for which you should seek information and advice both from U.S Embassy in Germany as well as the German Chamber of Commerce in Tokyo. You will notice some similarities between societies in Japan and Germany: They take themselves very seriously and know better. While many Germans now shake their heads over U.S. policies and behavior, individual Americans are treated with much friendliness.