Report from the LLR Cardiff CLL Open Day 2012.

[HAIRBEAR_UK]

Article from the CLLSA newsletter (On-line later this week)

It was genuinely inspiring to meet some of the people behind the research that is

changing our understanding of CLL, to get to see some of the kit behind the lab reports

and research papers, and to get a broad overview of the treatments and trials coming

on-line in the near future.

These guys are so committed, so engaged with their work, and so determined to make life

better for us CLLers, and people with blood cancers in general. It feels very good indeed

to know that people of this calibre, determination, warmth, and humanity are out there

working on our behalf...

It seems that our systemic, fluid, relatively slow-growing tumour type has suddenly

positioned us as the lab-rats of preference for the modern cancer researcher. As it

pointed out, we are an ideal source of continuous, progressive cell harvesting for

research, unlike solid tumours which tend to be excised or otherwise removed and provide

only a one-off harvest for the researcher. CLL is definitely emerging from its backroom

role as a dull, unsexy, and somewhat overlooked orphan disease.

I've been sceptical (as I'm sure many of us have) about some of the more celebratory

predictions of imminent cure currently floating around the CLL sphere. However, the 'C'

word was used with confidence by Professors Bunce and Fegan with potential 8-12 year time

parameters suggested...who knows how accurate this might be, but these are level-headed

clinicians and researchers who know their field inside out, and don't seem prone to

hyperbole. The potential cost of some of the new treatments coming on line was quite

shocking however, raising questions about how the health service will cope with the cost

of some of the newer therapies as their application across a broader range of cancers may

expand...a brave new world of cancer treatment options in a society where 1 in 3 of us

can expect a cancer diagnosis in our lifetime may demand a brave new health economy, and

that isn't going to be easy to fund in the current climate...

That issue aside, I think we have much to anticipate in terms of progress with CLL

treatment in the coming years...

Julia Kennedy

You can listen to the Audio recording and power point talks of the speakers at: youtube.com/watch?v=i8JegCa...(Not working as expected?)

Professor Chris Fegan - What are the problems faced by CLL patients

youtube.com/watch?v=YB_TsSl...(Not working as expected?)

Professor Chris Bunce - How we're beating CLL

youtube.com/watch?v=cvtrHys...(Not working as expected?)

Dr Guy Pratt - The Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research Trials Acceleration Programme

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I agree with all of the above! Thought it was an excellent, uplifting day and I left feeling optomistic and reassured that we have an excellent team supporting us.

[HAIRBEAR_UK Founder Admin]

I have just found this, a very extensive report from Tilly Sims from LLR we met her on the day. she's put together a blog with links to further information about the day and people who attended and links to the audios at the bottom of the page. leukaemialymphomaresearch.o...

It was an inspiring day and great to meet the team.