Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL/SLL)

Wendell Ison was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) on June 6, 2006. It was through his own battle that he decided to create the team known as "Wendell's Warriors" as a way to give back and make a difference in people's lives by raising money for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society (LLS).

I noticed some lymph nodes popped up on my neck so I went to the Dr. I didn't feel bad at all. My Dr. ordered blood work and my white blood count was high. I was sent to The Cancer Center of Acadiana for more blood work, scans, ultrasound and bone biopsy was done. After all the results came in my white blood count was 99,000 and I had 75% leukemia cells in my bone marrow.

I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in March 2010 at the age of 48.  The cancer advanced rapidly and I was treated with a fludarabine/cyclophosphamide/rituximab (FCR) regimen at MD Anderson in Houston and locally in my hometown of Raleigh, NC between January and July of 2011.  The treatment achieved a partial remission.