May 26, 2020

Dear Readers,

Brian and I are still Sheltering in Place, as are many other immunocompromised cancer patients and their caregivers.

So, how can our CLL community blossom in place and remain connected to others? Start by becoming a regular attendee at the CLL Society’s CLL-specific Support Groups as they meet live, online monthly. Even though we meet virtually using the Zoom platform, our groups are still organized geographically. Find support group meetings here.

ASH 2019 Conference Coverage

This week from ASH 2019, we feature an interview with Dr. Alexey Danilov of City of Hope, Duarte, CA conducted by Dr. John Pagel of the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle, WA. Dr. Pagel is a CLL expert and a member of the CLL Society’s Board of Directors. The topic concerns a new drug that blocks SYK Pathway with encouraging results when used in combination with obinutuzumab.

TG Therapeutics Announces Positive Results 

U2 (Unbralisib + Ublituximab) TG Therapeutics Announces Positive Topline Results from the UNITY-CLL Phase 3 Study Evaluating the Combination of Umbralisib and Ublituximab (U2). Read more.

Facebook Interview with Blood Cancers Uncensored

Our own Dr. Brian Koffman was interviewed by Dr. Adrian Warnock, a UK-based psychiatrist and CLL patient whose faith as a Christian is very important to him. Dr. Warnock established the Facebook group Blood Cancers Uncensored as a place for people to share, not only their cancer journeys, but also how their religious beliefs and faith have been part of that journey, a subject that is usually not discussed on other CLL forums. Watch the interview.

Expert Access Program™

If you are not in the care of a CLL Expert, we invite you to apply for an Expert 2nd Opinion through our Expert Access Program™. Research shows that there is a proven survival advantage to being in the care of a CLL Expert. Expert Access is a free service designed to provide those with a CLL diagnosis, who are not seeing a CLL Expert, an opportunity to spend 30 minutes in a no-cost HIPPA-compliant online face-to-face consultation with a CLL expert. Expert Access will serve 150 patients this year, so sign up sooner rather than later, as this program is finite. You will qualify if you have a diagnosis of CLL, live in the United States, and are not in the care of a CLL expert. Apply here.

Stay connected.

You are not alone.

The CLL Society is here to help!

Patty
Patricia Koffman
Co-Founder & Communications Director, CLL Society, Inc.

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CLL Treatment Decision Tool

The CLL Society worked with Clinical Care Options to put together some helpful patient materials including this basic CLL treatment decision tool to get you thinking about what options to discuss with your doctors.

Test Before Treat™

Stories from our readers highlight the importance of proper prognostic testing. Read here. Request a free bright red Test Before Treat™ reminder bracelet. Tell us how testing before treatment, or lack thereof, influenced your CLL management at support@cllsociety.org.

CLL Society Support Group Meetings Coming Up!

CLL Society Support Group meetings are moving to a virtual platform for most locations due to the threat of coronavirus. Support group members will receive an invitation to register for the meeting from the support group facilitator. If you are new to the group, please contact the RSVP email for the Support Group in the link to the specific location below. Once it is safe again, we will resume in-person meetings.

Northeast Ohio CLL Patient Support Group – May 26 @ 7:00 pm

New Orleans and Surrounding Areas CLL Support Group – May 27 @ 6:30 pm

Rochester NY CLL Support Group – May 27 @ 7:00 pm

Seattle and All Points North CLL Support Group – May 28 @ 6:00 pm

Boston CLL Patient Support Group – May 30 @ 1:00 pm

San Diego CLL Society Support and Education Meeting – June 3 @ 4:00 pm

The Orange County CLL Support Group – June 9 @ 7:00 pm

Cincinnati CLL Patient Support Group – June 10 @ 6:00 pm

Raleigh Area CLL Patient Support Group – June 10 @ 7:00 pm

Visit the individual event listings on our website for the most up-to-date information on all CLL Society Support Group meetings.

Lymphoma Research Foundation Meetings 

Tuesday, June 2, 2020 at 5:00 PM EDT / 4:00 PM CDT / 3:00 PM MDT / 2:00 PM PDT

VIRTUAL – Ask the Doctor About Lymphoma: Updates on Lymphoma and Treatment Options with Dr. Craig Okada at Oregon Health and Science University Hospital. Learn more and register here.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 6:00 PM EDT / 5:00 PM CDT / 4:00 PM MDT / 3:00 PM PDT

VIRTUAL – Ask the Doctor About Lymphoma: Updates on Lymphoma and Treatment Options with Dr. James L. Rubenstein at University of California, San Francisco. Learn more and register here.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Meetings

Please be advised that all of their Living Well with CLL programs have been postponed. Please visit LLS.org for more information.