Twenty-two years ago (May 2003), I was diagnosed with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL). As anyone who has had a diagnosis of cancer understands, depression set in. My new oncologist said that we would do a watch and wait for the time being. This was difficult for me as I wanted to attack the beast immediately. Like most people, I got onto the internet to do as much research as I could. Since there was no "cure," I asked my oncologist how long he thought I would live. He said that everyone is different and skirted around the question without a real answer. My watch and wait went on for over five years with just blood tests regularly. When we started chemotherapy, I was on a variety of chemo cocktails. This was tough at times, but I managed to keep my head of hair, for which I was grateful. I was getting infusions every three weeks. Then in 2013, my oncologist told me to hang in there as a new oral drug was coming out that he thought I would be an excellent candidate for. In 2014, I started Imbruvica® orally. It literally changed my life. For five years, I took a pill and lived a nearly normal life. When the Imbruvica® stopped working, I returned to a single chemo treatment and then went onto my second oral med, Venclexta®. This worked fairly well for three more years. I then returned to chemo until my oncologist told me about a new drug that was for lymphoma, but in trials has worked for CLL patients also. I started taking Jaypirca® off-label and had remarkable results. Jaypirca® was then approved by the FDA for CLL patients who had received previous treatment. I continue to take Jaypirca® each morning, and I am living a normal lifestyle. I have been blessed that modern science has stayed just ahead of my health journey.
William
chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL)
