I had read that those combinations of medications attack those bad cells with 2 methods but the dose is reduced so possible ill affects can be reduced?? All medications can have possible ill effects so when no ill affects happen this is good. I hope your life returns to normal like my life with good energy and an active person. I think me being 74 but as active as a 40 year old means I am normal because of my medication.
August 2
That's actually a pretty exciting development in leukemia treatment! The FDA recently approved the combination of Calquence (acalabrutinib) and Venclexta (venetoclax) as a first-line treatment for CLL. It's the first all-oral, fixed-duration combo approved for newly diagnosed CLL — meaning no infusions needed, just pills Show Full Answer
That's actually a pretty exciting development in leukemia treatment! The FDA recently approved the combination of Calquence (acalabrutinib) and Venclexta (venetoclax) as a first-line treatment for CLL. It's the first all-oral, fixed-duration combo approved for newly diagnosed CLL — meaning no infusions needed, just pills taken at home. Here's what clinical trial results showed about this combination:
- Reduced the risk of cancer worsening or death by 35% compared to standard chemoimmunotherapy
- At about 3.5 years of follow-up, more people on this combo were alive without disease progression
- Fewer deaths were reported (6%) compared to chemoimmunotherapy (14%)
The treatment runs for a set period — up to 14 cycles (just over a year) — rather than indefinitely, which can make planning ahead a little easier. Like all treatments, there are side effects to be aware of. The most common ones reported were:
- Neutropenia (low white blood cell count)
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Muscle and bone pain
- Infections
A rare but serious risk with Venclexta is tumor lysis syndrome, where cancer cells break down too quickly, potentially affecting the kidneys. Both drugs also carry warnings around serious infections and bleeding. It's really important to report any side effects to your care team promptly so they can help manage them.
July 31
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