Hi everyone -

My Dad was just diagnosed today and I am doing research. Because of his age and because he already has prostate cancer, he can't take any treatment for the CLL.

So far, he is not showing symptoms so that's good. He feels fairly normal considering all that's going on.

Do anyone have any advice for someone in his situation? He can't take treatments, but can he do other things that might help?

He could do okay with CLL for years, right?

Yes, you can do well with CLL for years. If he's older, he may never even be sick with it. They don't start treatment for CLL until there is reason to, so the fact that he can't take chemo, etc, directly for the leukemia is probably okay right now. It's at the "watch and wait" stage until he is weak or anemic or the CLL starts to show. It can be over 10 years, or not at all, when he gets sick.

The good news is it's slow progressing and can live dormant for a long time. And if he does eventually get treated for it, he can go into remission for years.

I hope he can focus on feeling well and recovering from the prostate cancer and maybe the CLL will not make him sick. And if it does, again, it is a very slow growing cancer, and they are finding new things to deal with it every day. I would suggest general health maintence, like eating well and getting lots of rest and taking care of his body until, if ever, it becomes an issue. I have CLL and am still in the "watch and wait" period (although I am under 30 years old, which is a bit sad).

There is tons of good information on CLL on the internet. There is a CLL foundation and lots of support groups and the like.

Good luck to you and your dad.

Hi everyone -

My Dad was just diagnosed today and I am doing research. Because of his age and because he already has prostate cancer, he can't take any treatment for the CLL.

So far, he is not showing symptoms so that's good. He feels fairly normal considering all that's going on.

Do anyone have any advice for someone in his situation? He can't take treatments, but can he do other things that might help?

He could do okay with CLL for years, right?

Hi Grace
I was diagnosed with cll 6 years ago and have had no symptoms other than a high wbc. I am 76. I wish you and your dad well

Phil