My doctor never told me anything but "don't worry?" After 10 months I learned all about leukemia and medications. During my first 10 months my blood tests rapidly increased which my doctor kept increasing when I should "worry?" I decided after 10 months that I wanted "medication!" I had not been told that when it was discovered I had CLL an MRI had been taken of my body to find why I was ill? The MRI had discovered my spleen was enlarged which is Stage #3 CLL. At Sage #3 medication is recommended to fight CLL. I should have been given medication months before but my doctor failed to protect me with medication. I think I we experiment with our health if we do not take the care to help our health with medication. I did discover medication is very expensive and my medication cost $15500 per month with a copay of $3400. Before my first prescription my doctor got a money grant from Leukemia Society for $4000 to pay for the $3400 copay. My medication cost me $0 because of insurance and the money grant. Learn about about CLL and medication by joining other CLL groups and watching CLL videos on YouTube. My medication uses the "BTK inhibitor" which attaches to the bad cells and kills the cell. I eat healthy and visit the gym 3 times a week and I am generally very active for a 74 year old man. Today my life is very normal (my latest MRI indicates my spleen is normal size) and I happy and healthy which I know is possible for others who have CLL. Celebrating Long Life (CLL)

Hi Jeff. So very understandable to be hesitant & apprehensive. Hopefully others on here that have been in your shoes, will share their thoughts & advice. Your oncologist more than likely has numerous options for you to think about yanno. You have a choice as well as to what you may or may not want to do. Sending hugs your way.

Hi Jeff
I know how you feel my blood test keeps coming back bad for over 3 years. The doctor thought I had colon cancer but no. Then they say I had a fatty liver but no.
And my left side would hurt it They did a test on my heart but no . But they found out my spleen that was in Large ,
In June 2026 my doctor found I have CML. I was 98% level 3 (not good). I started my treatment.
My primary doctor was a hospital doctor for 40 years before he retired and opened a small practice. He told me blood cancer attacks your spleen and liver first, Then it attacks your stomach and colon. I have to take Zintac and stool softer twice a day. He says the cancer thin the lining of your colon so it does not right. For my spleen pain only take tylenol. No Ibuprofen will hurt you. : Remember your cancer treatment thins your blood so you can bleed easily.
Hopefully this helps
Sending hugs and prayers on your new journey,

Hi Jeff, Teetogo is right about the different types of leukemia that require a different approach. I also had AML (currently in remission) and I thought I had a choice to delay treatment but I needed to be admitted to the hospital ASAP. I don't know much about CLL and I had to get informed and this was interesting to me:

"Watch and Wait: If the cancer grows slowly and causes no problems, doctors often monitor it closely without immediate treatment.

Targeted Therapy: Modern drugs attack specific changes in cancer cells to help manage the disease and put it into remission."