The coronavirus pandemic is changing quickly, and we especially need to stay up to date due to our increased risk of a more serious disease course should we become infected. The CLL Society will provide frequent medically curated updates and news, both general and specific to our community on this special section until the crisis has passed.
CLL Society Official Statements
CLL Society has authored Official Statements to help you help your healthcare providers understand CLL patients’ unique vulnerabilities to COVID-19 and our higher risks of serious complications.
- CLL Society’s Official COVID-19 Triage Statement
- CLL Society’s Official Statement Concerning CLL Patients Working and Traveling During the COVID-19 Pandemic (8/16/2020 update)
- CLL Society’s Official Statement Concerning Routine Trial and Clinical Visits for CLL and other Blood Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID-19 Updates
When appropriate, the CLL Society will be posting updates and background information on the present Coronavirus pandemic focusing on reliable primary sources of information and avoiding most of the news that is not directly from reliable medical experts or government and world health agencies.
- Case Study: Prolonged infectious SARS-CoV-2 shedding from an asymptomatic immunocompromised cancer (chronic lymphocytic leukemia or CLL) patient.
- Vaccine candidate was found to be more than 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants without evidence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first interim efficacy analysis
- We’ve got you covered! Learn how you can receive free KN95 masks.
- Dr. Brian Koffman provides us with a well-referenced guide to the appropriate use of various types of face masks and respirators.
- Counseling Patients With CLL on Mental and Physical Health During COVID-19
- When CLL Meets COVID-19
- CLL Society’s Official Statement Concerning CLL (chronic lymphocytic leukemia) Patients Working and Traveling During the COVID-19 Pandemic (8/16/2020 update)
- COVID-19 severity and mortality in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients
- Telemedicine: Managing Patients with CLL During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CLLAN on COVID-19
- Free translations of common terms used on relationship to COVID-19
- Inhibition of Bruton tyrosine kinase in patients with severe COVID-19
- Living with CLL during the COVID19 Pandemic
- Managing CLL during the COVID-19 Pandemic: When A Virtual Doctor’s Visit Might be Appropriate
- ASH Hosts a Registry for Blood Cancer Patients Who Contract COVID-19
- UK Shielding for Vulnerable Patients includign those with CLL
- CLL Patients Early in the COVID-19 Pandemic: An International Survey of CLL Experts
- In this CURE Magazine Interview, Dr. Koffman highlights the hidden benefits which come as a bonus of the required Social Distancing as CLL Society Online Virtual Support Groups blossom into caring communities!
- Dr. Koffman explains the excitement about the possible role of two CLL drugs, ibrutinib and acalabrutinib, to treat COVID-19
- COVID-19 and CLL: Frequently Asked Questions
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and CLL patients: Statement of the CLL Advocates Network
- Drug Availability
- Dr. Pagel’s advice for CLL Patients at the Swedish Hospital, in Seattle
- CLL Society’s Official Statement Concerning Routine Trial and Clinical Visits for CLL and other Blood Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- CLL Society Special Alert
- COVID-19 and Blood Cancer Patients
- Updated every minute, 17-year-old whiz kid’s coronavirus site used by millions
- WHAT’S IN A NAME: The Coronavirus Pandemic
- COVID-19 Update (March 7, 2020)
- Coronavirus
- 2019 Novel Coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV: What’s the risk?
CLL Society COVID-19 Virtual Community Meeting
Thanks to all who attended our last event on June 18! In case you couldn’t make it or would like to review the discussion again, the meeting has now been archived here!
Past archived meetings:
CLL Society Postponements or Rescheduling
We have been diligently monitoring the evolving issues related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Out of an abundance of caution, CLL Society has canceled all Support Group meetings for March. We are assessing the situation daily and are looking at all options, including virtual meetings. Thanks for your understanding and flexibility in this rapidly changing situation. We have also postponed the next 4 patient educational forums including 2 in conjunction with Mayo, 1 in MN and 1 in AZ, the 1 at Dana Farber in Boston, and the one at Norton Cancer Institute in Louisville. We hope to reschedule these for the summer or offer virtual webinars in their place. Check here and on the links below to learn the latest status of our support groups and educational forums.
Ask the Expert about Coronavirus
We are very grateful to Dr. Furman for his generosity in answering the many questions he receives. We also are thankful to have Tom Henry for pharmacy questions, Dr. Susan Leclair for all things lab, and Dr. Ed Ratner for your questions re: palliative and end of life care. Have question? Scroll to the CLL Toolbox section at bottom of this page and choose the appropriate button.
Remember that we cannot give medical advice and any suggestions should be reviewed with your treating doctors.
- Returning to a preschool classroom
- COVID-19 Risks for CLL patients with children returning to school
- Live COVID Vaccine
- Safe to be in crowds on Venetoclax and Obinutuzumab during COVID-19 pandemic
- Returning to work as a teacher during the COVID pandemic
- Questions on Risk of COVID-19 and Fatigue
- Safe to return to work as a surgeon
- Risk of COVID-19 outdoors for CLL Patients
- Risk of COVID-19 with stable CLL
- Safe to visit family during pandemic
- Risk of COVID 19 and CLL
- Vaccine for COVID-19
- Using Gloves during COVID-19
- COVID-19: Question re Disinfectants
- Ibrutinib Shortage due to COVID-19 in China
- When to go to the doctor with possible COVID symptoms
- Bloodwork during the COVID-19 pandemic
- When will there be effective treatments for COVID-19?
- Visit with family member during COVID-19 pandemic
- Availability of masks and other necessities during COVID-19
- Vaccinations for CLL patients
- Am I still contagious if I have antibodies to SARS-CoV-2
- Drug interactions between CLL drugs and discussed hydroxychloroquine/Z-pack combo possibly for COVID-19
- Testing for Past COVID-19 Infection
- Working with patients during C19 pandemic
- Working as a HCP who has CLL during the C19 pandemic
- Medication questions with C19 pandemic
- IgA low and COVID risk
- Surgery in husband of CLL patient during pandemic
- Spouse has CLL and I am going to work at grocery store during COVID-19 pandemic
- COVID-19: Question re Disinfectants
- Working on a factory with CLL during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Answers to your questions concerning testing for the novel coronavirus
- Travel with COVID-19 Concerns
- Flu and pneumonia shots
- Sterilizing a Face Mask for Reuse
- Higher risk of coronavirus
- Immunoglobulins and COVID-19
- COVID-19
- Travel to Italy
Thank you to our Sponsors
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The Big Picture: Comments, Coping Strategies, and Musing on COVID-19
This medical pandemic may bring light to some corners of our society, our health systems, and own psyches that are used to living in the dark. And that is a good thing.
- Mazen Dudar puts a human face on CLL and Covid-19 and reminds us that some CLL patients have mild disease and do well.
- We are all in this together.
- When you say coronavirus will only kill the vulnerable, you’re talking about me.
Expert Access Program
Telemedicine is a great tool to receive a second opinion without going to the hospital or your doctor’s office. You can see an expert CLL physician, at no cost, for a second opinion using our easy online platform, apply here. This program is open to all U.S. patients with a CLL diagnosis. If you have used the program before, you may reapply if you need new clinical advice.