New CLL

[Songster]

70 Year old male.  Diagnosed in Jan16.  11q del, unmutated.  Stage 1, watch and wait but on a short leash.   Main complication is drug I take for RA (Simponi).  Feeling fine.   

[tclementi]

So glad to hear that! Thanks for posting and being part of our community here on Health Unlocked. 

[Justasheet1]

Welcome Songster. I wish it wasn't so but we both are on this forum. I too have your markers but everyone is different. 

Soak all the knowledge in from here and ask questions or vent. 

Best advice I can give is find a CLL expert and let them look you over. 

Jeff 

[tclementi in reply to Justasheet1]

Great advice Jeff! Thanks for commenting and sharing your experience! 

[Jackiemoss]

I, too, had RA when I was diagnosed with CLL 25 years ago (I'm 66). My RA went into remission at about the same time CLL appeared. I agree with Jeff. Find an expert in CLL. I go to a great oncologist but when he heard about ibrutinib, he sent me to Michael Keating at MD Anderson for a clinical trial. He is one of several CLL experts you will see on Patient Power videos. Wishing you good health!

[Songster in reply to Jackiemoss]

It was because of regular blood work done for RA that my CLL was diagnosed.   I have seen Dr. Bartlett at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis.  She is very concerned with the fact that I take self injections of Simponi  for RA.  That drug has minimized my RA flares for the past six years.  I will see  both my oncologist and rheumatologist in the next 3 weeks. They have discussed my dilemma and sooner or later I will have to stop Simponi.  My overall health is good, have not even had so much as a cold in the last 6 years.