Experience with Calquence for CLL

[Nbk6362]

Anyone taking calquence for CLL? Dr starting my Dad on it next week and wanting to know what to expect . He is 85,

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Nbk6362,

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I hope I can help you support your father.

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I started Acalabrutinib / Calquence 2 weeks ago.

(If you look at my profile you will see that this is the 5th new targeted drug I have taken for my CLL, so I've had many different types of the Non Chemo treatments).

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While there are several common side effects, most are mild and only affect about 10% of patients. The only one I encountered was a mild headache. Fortunately mine was early morning before breakfast, and a large strong coffee was the cure. After about one week the headaches are gone for me.

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If he has enlarged lymph nodes and spleen, his ALC / Lymph# and WBC may rise dramatically as the nodes and spleen shrink. This is expected and may take up to one year to come back down below the original ALC Lymph # values.

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Let us know if you have other questions, but if you can, go to his appointment with the doctor when he starts the drug and listen carefully to the explanation of side effects, so you will know which require immediate attention and which are nuisances.

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Len

[lankisterguy Volunteer]

Hi Nbk6362,

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I just returned from my 2 week checkup with Dr. Furman, and he cancelled the instruction from the Pharmacist about drinking lots of water. That applies only to Venetoclax and not Calquence. So I have edited my first reply to remove that comment.

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Len