When 65-year-old professor and lifelong athlete Peter Titlebaum was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2018, he refused to let it derail his active life. Instead, he leaned on running, cycling, and swimming to maintain balance while following the Watch and Wait approach. Even as his condition progressed and he eventually underwent a year of treatment, Peter continued finding new challenges and staying engaged—reminding himself that CLL didn’t define who he was.
Treatment wasn’t easy. He faced complications, including COVID-19 and pneumonia, but he remained committed to positivity—bringing treats to nurses, leaning on support groups, and being honest with his family and students. Now in remission, Peter continues to exercise, teach, and share his story to encourage others living with CLL.
In the article A Leukemia Diary: Peter Titlebaum Remains Very Active With CLL published by Cancer Health, Peter shares his advice to those newly diagnosed: it’s natural to feel upset, but acceptance, information, and community are powerful tools. You need a plan, a strategy for what you can do and control,” he says. For Peter, choosing to see the glass as half full has made all the difference.
