CLL(Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia), an update. No news is good news!
NOTE: Please be advised that I'm not writing to exact sympathy, or to belittle the struggle of others who have cancers that are far more debilitating than my SLL/CLL. I'm actually grateful that I have this and not something far worse. I've also mentioned this before.
About 2 years ago, my doctor suggested that I get a CT(Computed Tomography) scan of my heart, as I was mid-50s and he thought I might have a blockage(heart disease runs in my family). Thankfully, I was all clear, but the scan revealed some black spots on my lungs. A later biopsy of the tumors revealed the CLL. To say I was floored was an understatement.
My doctor said that it needs no treatment now and may not ever, because it is so small and indolent(slowly-growing). It's alarming to hear the doctor say "It's cancer," no matter how minor it is. It took me a while to process it.
Basically, I am asymptomatic; I doubt I would even know I have this but for a chronic mucous-y cough that I have that I suspect is my immune system reacting to abnormal white blood cells. And oh yes, it's a pain in the ass; I cough several times daily, whenever something loosens it all; imagine having sinusitis...forever.
I'd never heard of CLL before, and yet, I've since met others with it; life is funny like that. I otherwise feel fine. It IS nice to know the (possible) cause of this cough I've had for so long.
I've learned many things. One is not to open up a door to a roomful of people and say "I have cancer!" because people get weird. I explain exactly what it is I have, usually by calling it up on my phone and showing it to people, assuring them that I'm not going to be dead in 2 weeks. That was one big OOPS the first time I mentioned it to a few friends and bandmates. Absolutely no co-workers know, and I like it that way.
So yep, didn't have this on that 'ol bingo card, and yet I feel lucky that this wasn't the dire situation it could have been.
About 2 years ago, my doctor suggested that I get a CT(Computed Tomography) scan of my heart, as I was mid-50s and he thought I might have a blockage(heart disease runs in my family). Thankfully, I was all clear, but the scan revealed some black spots on my lungs. A later biopsy of the tumors revealed the CLL. To say I was floored was an understatement.
My doctor said that it needs no treatment now and may not ever, because it is so small and indolent(slowly-growing). It's alarming to hear the doctor say "It's cancer," no matter how minor it is. It took me a while to process it.
Basically, I am asymptomatic; I doubt I would even know I have this but for a chronic mucous-y cough that I have that I suspect is my immune system reacting to abnormal white blood cells. And oh yes, it's a pain in the ass; I cough several times daily, whenever something loosens it all; imagine having sinusitis...forever.
I'd never heard of CLL before, and yet, I've since met others with it; life is funny like that. I otherwise feel fine. It IS nice to know the (possible) cause of this cough I've had for so long.
I've learned many things. One is not to open up a door to a roomful of people and say "I have cancer!" because people get weird. I explain exactly what it is I have, usually by calling it up on my phone and showing it to people, assuring them that I'm not going to be dead in 2 weeks. That was one big OOPS the first time I mentioned it to a few friends and bandmates. Absolutely no co-workers know, and I like it that way.
So yep, didn't have this on that 'ol bingo card, and yet I feel lucky that this wasn't the dire situation it could have been.
