CLL IN ELDERLY MOTHER

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My mum has been diagnosed with CLL for 2 years now and has just seen her haematologist who has taken blood samples for analysis. She is 87 years of age and has other heath conditions, ie, heart palputation, spinal stenosis. She cannot walk very far and certainly without a Walker or stick. Consultant has stated that there will likely to be options for her once the test results have come back, but it is likely to be some form of chemo, possibly oral tablets.

Can anyone give me I formation on this treatment re the chemo tablets. I am very concerned about side effects as my mums health is not great. My wife was diagnosed with AML in 2018 and had 5 sessions of chemo via intraveinus drip and the effects were quite punishing. If the tablet form causes anything like those,fear my .umwould not cope at all with this.

Nick

Tortola6 over 5 years ago

The original standard treatment for CLL was the chemo combination FCR, which can be hard for some people, but not all. Due to the sometimes harsh treatment this is normally only used up until about the age of 65 years.

But due to the patients age the NHS is more likely to offer BR which is a chemo, but a much easier one to tolerate, and is often used for those 65 and up.

The chemo therapies are slowly being replaced by newer and easier drugs, such as Ibrutinib and Venetoclax. There are several drug trials being undertaken in the UK with the new drugs in various combinations. Your specialist can advise on this.

CLL is what they call a Heterogeneous Disease, meaning that the outcomes are extremely varied.

Doubtless you will need more information and or moral support and you will find all this at The Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia Support Association, mostly known as the CLLSA.

This free to join association has a forum on HealthUnlocked, lots of pamphlets that you can download as well as regular meetings throughout the UK. At these meetings will be patients attending a lecture from a known CLL expert doctor/researcher, plus a free lunch and coffees etc.

I would strongly suggest you use your web browser to locate the CLLSA and follow the links from there.

The future for us with CLL is looking brighter with these new drugs.

Good luck

Dick

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