Secondary cancer

FormerMember over 5 years ago

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I was told on 6 Jan this year that I may have CLL which was later confirmed as stage A CLL. I'm now on watch and wait. No treatment. Blood test in April.

I've found out more info over the weeks and am trying to come to terms with it all. I read that there is the increased chance of secondary cancer in another organ and this scares me because I'm just trying to come to terms with the CLL. So I asked my doctor at the hospital on my 2nd consultation if it was true that there was a greater risk of getting a secondary cancer and she said no. I believed her but that's not what I've read and heard on the internet. So now I'm not sure if I trust my doctor or whether she said this so as to not stress me further. Feel depressed about the whole thing and can't see the point anymore. Any advice? Thanks.

FormerMember over 5 years ago

I've had CLL for over ten years now and yes I've had two types of skin cancer firstly SCC then BCC and I'm monitored by a dermatologist.

We are more susceptible to other cancers but no point worrying about what you cannot control.

Have a chat with Mac nurses helpline if that helps.

Dave

Tortola6 over 5 years ago

I can confirm that secondary cancers ARE more common with those of us who have CLL.

This being due to the fact that when we have CLL that our immune system is not fully functional.

However these secondary cancers are not massively increased, the statistics only showing a small to moderate increase in those with CLL.

The most common type of cancer being a skin cancer, followed by colon cancer.

AND, very significantly, these two cancers are easily checked for, and easily removed, BEFORE they become anything like significant.

Thus we need to make a visual overall skin check, and not just in the areas that get sun. Any small marks or growths should be reported to your GP, and onwards to the dermatology department at the hospital. I myself have had a small skin lesion easily removed with a quite painless procedure.

The second check is to ensure that we have regular colonoscopies at about 3 year intervals.

This to make sure that any polyps in the colon are removed, before they become cancerous.

While this is perhaps uncomfortable, the procedure is not painful, and only takes a day of your time.

Any good oncologist / haematologist is aware of these matters, and if they are not, then one must push for them, or change the person that you are dealing with.

So that you know, not all of us with CLL require immediate treatment, and I myself was diagnosed 15 years ago and have had no CLL treatment. The statistics show that approximately 30 % will never need treatment. Added to this, there are numerous new drugs becoming available which can keep our CLL under control.

Good luck.

Dick

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