iwCLL 2017: Deb Sims Discusses Her Incredible CLL Journey

Deb Sims is a patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who has an amazing story and who has logged 100,000s of miles to participate in a clinical trial with venetoclax that knocked backed her aggressive CLL.

We reconnected in Manhattan at iwCLL (International Workshop on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) 2017, the major biannual meeting of leading CLL researchers. Two years earlier we had our first fateful encounter at a CLL Society educational event held in San Diego in collaboration with the CRC (CLL Research Consortium) and LLS (Leukemia and Lymphoma Society).

But I will let Deb tell her story.

Take Away Points:

• Don’t give up, even when the prognosis may look bleak.
• You may have to travel far and fight hard to get the care you need.
• New and better therapies are around, but are not always available locally and not always in the awareness of local hematologists.
• It is critical to our survival to have a true CLL expert on your team.
• It’s going to be long journey.
• We are all in this together.

Here is my chat with my friend from Melbourne, Deb Sims. You can read the transcript here.

Keep in my mind while listening that venetoclax was developed in Melbourne, but Deb had to fly to London, England to get the medicine that saved her life.

Brian Koffman, MD 8/1/17