February 9, 2021

Dear Readers,

Our CLL community has a big heart. That includes you, both as a receiver and a giver of goodwill. Take all that CLL Society offers. Give back in any way that you can. We all need giving and receiving to stay alive. We need both kinds of hearts. Happy Valentine’s Day!

COVID-19 Virtual Community Meeting

Join us on Friday, March 26, 2021 (11:00 AM PT, 12:00 PM MT, 1:00 PM CT, and 2:00 PM ET) for CLL Society’s Virtual Community Meeting: Contagion, Variants, and Vaccines. The global COVID-19 pandemic continues to rage in 2021 as vaccination distribution begins. CLL experts Drs. Steve Rosen and Alexey Danilov, infectious disease specialist Dr. Sanjeet Dadwal, Lab Scientist Dr. Susan Leclair, and CLL Society’s Dr. Brian Koffman will bring you the most up-to-date information. It is critical that CLL patients and their caregivers receive credible COVID-19 information from different expert voices. Our expert panelists will answer audience questions. Register now and submit your questions! See you there!

Vaccines

CLL Society in the Vaccine News

CNN London’s reporter Lauren Kent interviewed Dr. Brian Koffman about the importance of vaccinating cancer patients. Learn more here.

Get the Vaccine! Should CLL patients receive COVID-19 Vaccinations? Three cancer advocacy organizations say, “Yes!”. See below.

CLL Society’s Official Statement Concerning SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in CLL patients, updated1/04/2021. Learn more here.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s (NCCN) COVID-19 Vaccination Statement. Learn more here.

European Research Initiative in CLL (ERIC) Official Statement: SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Patients with CLL. Learn more here.

Vaccination Prioritization Campaign

Your chance to do a good deed! You can help move immunosuppressed blood cancer patients to the head of the vaccination line. Click, fill, send! 

Breaking News

On February 6th, the FDA approved the use of liso-cel (JCAR017) for DLBCL (diffuse large b-cell lymphoma). Learn more here.

ASH 2020 Conference Coverage 

When Dr. Jennifer Brown was interviewed by CLL Society’s Chairman of the Board Steve Bloom, Dr. Brown reported on the results of a study involving a pooled analysis of more than 700 CLL patients in four different clinical trials, comparing the incidence of cardiovascular events in acalabrutinib vs. ibrutinib. Ibrutinib is a Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor that is very effective for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, it must be taken continuously for an indefinite duration, and its use has been linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular side effects. A next-generation BTK inhibitor, such as acalabrutinib, may be a safer option for patients with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Learn more here.

In Case You Missed It

On Demand – February 4th Ed Forum: ASH 2020 Comes to You

CLL Society was delighted to feature Drs. Anthony Mato and Bill Wierda presenting and explaining the research they presented at ASH 2020. Dr. Mato explained the excitement around LOXO-305, as well as a one pill triple combination therapy that is currently in clinical trials targeting Richter’s Transformation. Dr. Wierda explained the TRANSCEND CAR-T study using Liso-cel (JCAR017) in combination with ibrutinib, and presented updated data from the MRD Cohort of the CAPTIVATE Study. And much more! Check it out and enjoy the replay!

A Caregiver’s Story

Highlighting an excerpt from our February 4th Ed Forum: ASH 2020 Comes to You, caregiver Linda Lannom’s first-person narration makes us realize how data presented at ASH and all the other major blood cancer conferences can greatly enrich a caregiver’s body of knowledge, as they prepare to advocate for the best possible care for those in their care. Learn more here.

Support Group Member Survey

Over 1,800 CLL patients and caregivers attend our 38 CLL-specific Support Groups, which hold meetings monthly via Zoom. If you take part in one of these groups, we want your thoughts on the Support Group you attend. If you have already completed our survey, thanks for your help! Click here for the Support Group Member Survey.

Quick links to great help from the CLL Society

• New to CLL?  Neil Kay leads the way! 
• CLL Support Groups, here is THE BIG MAP
• Test Before Treat™(download here)
• CLL Society’s Official Statement on Vaccines (updated 1/4/2021)(download here)
• Normal Lab Values (download here)
• Glossary of Terms (download here)

CLL Society is the only CLL-specific, physician-curated public charity dedicated to meeting the unmet needs of CLL patients and their caregivers which holds the GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency.

We are all in this together.

Patty Koffman
Co-Founder & Communications Director
CLL Society

CLL Society Support Group Meetings Coming Up!

CLL Society Support Group meetings have moved 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 your region. Once it is safe again, we will resume in-person meetings.

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