I was never told anything from my medical people except "don't worry?" I learned about CLL from reading questions and answers from different groups. I learned about chemo treatments and medication for CLL. After ten months of watching my WBC count increase and the doctor telling to not worry and setting the new worry limit higher I requested medication. I did not want to experiment with chemo treatment and the odd ill affects? I think chemo treatment is given to lots of people because of the cost versus the overall effectiveness of the process. I am glad my medication can be effective for 10 to 20 years. In a week I will have a doctor visit and I will be doing this over the phone since I do not think there will be much to discuss since my blood test may be 100% like it has been for the past few years.

Hi Carolyn,
I know how you feel about wait and watch, I always called it wait and worry. Haematologists wait until lymphocytes and white blood count are elevated above the normal range or sometimes high as well as other symptoms, My bloods were around 100 when they started treatment . I believe they wait as every time you have chemo or treatment it doesn’t work as good as the first initial treatment.
This took a lot of getting around for me (understanding) as when we are told we have cancer of any kind we need to get onto it immediately. leukaemia is different and as CLL and others are slow to advance haematologist just wait.
I had my treatment 4 years ago and have been reasonably good since. I still say that if you’re not happy with what you hear from your haematologist then you get advice from another haematologist. Compare your blood levels every time you have blood tests. Watch what seams odd. In time you will become fully aware of what’s good and what needs attention .

Hi Carolyn. Both of those pills mentioned in the article, people here on this site have been taking so hopefully they will also respond. They are not new tho as the article is indicating.