Leukaemia

Hi i just want to know if anyone has any experience of or has had any similar experiences they want to share. My dad has had cancer twice first when i was 11/12 and i am now 18 and he has just been told he may have chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Has anyone got any experience of it. It sounds really selfish but i just dont think i can take much more of him being ill and knowing what to expect is worse, the problem with CLL i can gather is that he could live for months or up to 20 years but it will eventually kill him.

Reply 1

Anonymous #2

My grandma died of this. She didn't tell anyone, though, until it got really bad. She lived with it for ten years and I remember playing tennis with her two years before she died. She used to beat me. All best to your dad.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

OP

I'm really sorry to hear that, do you mind me asking how old she was when she died?

Reply 3

vickyrkenya

2

Hi
I had ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukaemia) when I was younger.

May i suggest as your very first point of call...

www.cancerhelp.org.uk

It has loads of information about CLL which you might find useful. I don't know anything about your dad or what his treatment will be so really can't think how i can help much at the moment but I do know lots about leukaemias in general because of a presentation i did for my course on leukaemias. Basically the difference between the cancer I had and the one your dad is suffering from is that mine could have worsened and become fatal very quickly whereas with CLL - the change in health is generally slower and more progressive. CLL is considered to be incurable as such...but most people live normal lives for a very long time with it and treatment is only started when the symptoms begin to affect the person's quality of life - which can be from when they are initially diagnosed to 10 years after...it really does vary from case to case.

Anyway - best of luck to you and all of your family - as im sure you know having experienced it before its a difficult situation to deal with but the only thing you can do is be there for the person when you need them.

If you think I can help in any other way then please feel free to send me a PM - i check TSR most days.

Vicky

Reply 4

aleathiel

16

my stepdad was diagnosed with cancer just over a year ago and told he had a year or less to live! over a year later he's still here but not doing so well :frown:

and gonna get worse :frown:

we've had hardly any support from his sister and daughter! well his daughter has hardly seen him the whole year, it makes me so angry!

anyway I guess what Im trying to say is I know what you're going through and if you wanna talk you can pm me any time!

Reply 5

goody2shoes88

My Dad has Leukaemia but he's doing really well. Hes so 'normal' that most of the time we forget he has it. So things aren't always as dreadful as they seem. Just take everyday as it comes and make the most of everything.

Reply 6

blah

Sorry to hear about your dad. I had Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when I was younger. It has one of the longest treatment spans but it's also one of the easiest to retreat. What I can tell you is that there are plently of wonderful support groups out there.

Reply 7

Anonymous #3

my boyfriend got diagnosed with ALL about month and half ago, hes just finished his induction therapy and all seems to be going well so far, everyone is so positive about everything :smile:

still cant really believe it tho... worst things happen to the best people eh. good luck to your dad xx

Reply 8

wojewodztwo_pl

I really hope that your dad stays healthy for many years to come, but please remember that talking about it and getting advice really helps. the website given above is really good and there are many foundations who can help you with alot of things. even on those days when you really feel like locking yourself up in your room, and not talking to anyone, remember that someone can say the most pointless and meaningless thing and it may fill a huge hole that was in your heart.

friends are Gods way of saying sorry for relatives (haha), so remember that your not alone in this fight, even though at times it may seem the case.

buona fortuna

Reply 9

Segat1

16

Anonymous

Hi i just want to know if anyone has any experience of or has had any similar experiences they want to share. My dad has had cancer twice first when i was 11/12 and i am now 18 and he has just been told he may have chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Has anyone got any experience of it. It sounds really selfish but i just dont think i can take much more of him being ill and knowing what to expect is worse, the problem with CLL i can gather is that he could live for months or up to 20 years but it will eventually kill him.

My dad had acute myloidal (sp?) leukaemia about 4 yrs ago and I can sympathise with you. Just spend loads of time together and don't start thinking about what might happen - enjoy what you have! :hugs: