Leukemia

[Sam510]

Hello, my dad just got diagnosed with leukemia yesterday. He is in the hospital now getting a biopsy. Can anyone please let me know how long the process takes and when can he come home? He is very anxious and miss the family very much. With the coronavirus we cannot visit him. I am wondering between the acute and chronic leukemia which one is more dangerous and which one have a better survival rate and cure? How advance is the technology in dealing with this cancer? Thank you very much.

[DrunkJam_UK Administrator]

Hi,I'm sorry to hear about your Dad, it is certainly a worrying time .

I'm really sorry, but I don't know how long the process of him being tested etc will take? Do you know what it is that they are taking a biopsy of? Leukaemia is a blood cancer, so, depending on the type and nature, there are a couple of possibilities.

No one can really know the answers to your questions until you know what type and the nature of his cancer. I know that sounds harsh, but, it would be wrong to give you false information.

If you need someone to chat with, Leukaemia Care are really awesome (I don't work for them, my husband has Leukaemia) and, they have a help line you can ring if you still have questions.

it also depends where in the world you are. (I'm in UK) and of course, *everything* is more complicated with Covid.

Do keep us posted, let us know how things are going, and yell if you need to chat.

[2003UK Champion]

Oh, Sam the fear and anxiety you are very naturally feeling really comes from your post.A lot of the things you asking are really for your dad or you if you have the opportunity to speak to someone in his medical team. Your dad is obviously a very special person with a unique medical history and so many other things like the tests he is having are taken into account before a treatment plan is put in place. Treatments are changing rapidly and he might have treatment immediately, we do not know.

Firstly, I was diagnoses with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (there are about 137 blood cancers) in 2003. I thought I was the only person in the world in the position I was in, I felt in a surreal bubble with the world going on as normal around me. I wrote my will and music for my funeral. I am still here and I know I am such a lucky girl, but I have been on 'watch and wait' (active monitoring) ever since.

Yes, your dad must be missing his family so much and I can tell how much you are missing him.

I think being a family member is the toughest role in the world you have the same emotions fears, thoughts, feelings but added practicalities and are you are completely powerless as well. On top of that you have the Covid restrictions and fears mixed in.

The good news is that you now have found us to share with and support you and the Leukaemia Care Charity helpline is brilliant and open Monday - Friday 8.30am until 5.30 pm and they have a special evening service on a Thursday and Friday 7pm - 10pm. The number is freephone 08088 010 444. I wouldn't advice too much internet searching but the Leukaemia Care website has great reliable information.

Take care, stay safe your dad is lucky to have you and you know where we are.

[lankisterguy]

Hi Sam510,-

I see that you are in the USA (so am I), and the group you have posted on is a UK Charity - great folks but you may get more help by contacting

lls.org/

in the USA.

Speak to an Information Specialist at the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

For personalized disease and treatment information and clinical trial searches. Monday - Friday 9 am to 9 pm ET. 800.955.4572

-

There are several groups here on Health Unlocked that serve specific blood cancers, but to know which one will be important. Examples are

healthunlocked.com/cllsupport

healthunlocked.com/non-hodg...

-

To try to answer your other questions: The Acute Leukemias are agressive but often curable with Chemotherapy (and most often in children or young adults).

The Chronic Leukemias and Lymphomas are usually slow growing and treatable but not curable (most occur to older people from their 40's to 90's the incidence rises alot).

-

The most common are CLL- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (aka SLL-Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma), Hodgkin Lymphoma, and a long list under the broad category of Non Hodgkin Lymphoma. It often requires sophisticated blood tests or biopsy tests to sort out which one is the cause, but immediate treatment is very rarely needed for these.

-

Len