MONTHLY QUIZ:
All the following are true about CLL / SLL except:
- All with CLL / SLL, even those off therapy or who’ve never been treated, are immunocompromised.
- Some CLL / SLL patients have lived more than 50 years with their cancer.
- Many CLL / SLL patients will never need treatment and will have a normal life expectancy.
- Nearly all who do need treatment for their CLL / SLL have a shortened life expectancy.
- As CLL / SLL patients are living longer, complications such as second cancers and infections are causing more deaths than the CLL / SLL itself.
ANSWER: # 4 is no longer true. With today’s excellent targeted therapies, many CLL patients, including those who require treatment can expect to live a normal life span. All the other answers are correct.
NEWS: Join us on December 13th for the webinar, Common Infections with CLL: Prevention and Treatment with infectious disease specialist Dr. William Werbel.
CLL Society has two events coming up to learn about the CLL research from ASH 2024.
- December 17th: ASH 2024 X Spaces Event will be geared towards a healthcare provider audience, but all are welcome attend and learn. You must have an X account to participate live and we will share the on-demand event on our website.
- January 9th: ASH 2024 Comes to You! webinar with Drs. Koffman and Nitin Jain reviews key abstracts.
The third episode of CLL Society’s CareCast podcast is out now – Supporting Loved Ones Through CLL: A Care Partner’s Journey with patient advocate Susan Bottega.
Bone Marrow Donors for CLL: Joining a bone marrow registry is easy and can save a life. Mike Peters, lead singer from The Alarm has Richter’s transformation and is advocating for the importance of becoming a bone marrow donor. While CLL patients can’t donate, please ask family and friends to help: https://cllsociety.org/2024/11/become-a-bone-marrow-donor-and-save-lives-of-those-with-cll/
THE BASICS: Antibodies
This is the final and most advanced “lesson” in our year of CLL education through the Bloodlines. We start all over next year.
Antibodies are protein produced by the B lymphocytes in response to specific antigens or proteins. Antibodies attach to surface proteins that our bodies recognize as foreign, such as bacteria and viruses in the blood. When we measure our immunoglobulins (IGA, IGG, IGM), we are measuring how many antibodies we have. Manmade antibodies, because they are cloned, are called monoclonal antibodies. In CLL, they are engineered to attack surface markers such as CD20 found on all B cells including normal ones and cancerous CLL cells. Examples are rituximab and obinutuzumab (Gazyva). They also can be engineered to attack the COVID-19’s spike protein. Antibodies are one type of immunotherapy.
WORD/ACRONYM OF THE MONTH: Bispecific T-cell Engager or BITE
A BITE is a manmade antibody that simultaneously binds two different proteins (antigens), usually one that targets cancer cells and the other T cells, pulling them close together to facilitate killing of the cancer. They are experimental in CLL.
CLOSING THOUGHTS: As 2024 draws to a close CLL Society is asking for your support to help save the lives of CLL / SLL patients. Our website continues to help with more than 5 million visits. We have over 40 support groups now and more educational services. Our policy work influenced the FDA, CMS and CDC to respond to the needs of those with CLL / SLL as part of the rare cancer and immunocompromised community. We expanded our research grants and have committed $1,700,000 to date for CLL research. We are the only charity that spends 100% of its research funds to solve the unmet needs specific to CLL / SLL.
Your donations make all of this possible. We accept gifts of cash, IRA charitable distributions, bequests, gifts from donor advised funds, stocks, vehicles, and more. Remember, in a year like this where the stock market is up almost 20%, there are extra benefits to making a gift of highly appreciated stock.
Every day, we work to transform your support into action, always for the benefit of our CLL community. You can learn more about ways to donate and give safely on the CLL Society website. Thanks to all who have already given and those considering a donation before year’s end! Blessings for the holiday.
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year. CLL Society is invested in your long life. Please invest in the long life of CLL Society.
