CareCast: The CLL Society Podcast
Being told you have chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can come with feelings of worry, sadness, confusion, and perhaps most of all, uncertainty. From diagnosis, to watch and wait, starting treatment, reaching long-term stability and survivorship, to potential relapse and starting over again, the journey can get complicated, and everyone’s experience is unique. CLL Society is here to partner with you, and together we can tackle the hard moments and turn them into positive action and hope.
CareCast, the CLL Society podcast, explores living with CLL through real-life stories. We will speak with patients, care partners, and loved ones to get an array of perspectives on the impact CLL / SLL has from those closest to it. We invite you to join us – we are all in this together.
Listen to CareCast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
CareCast Episodes
To kick things off, we are completing a series on the emotional rollercoaster of living with CLL. Tune in to our first few episodes featuring amazing speakers as we explore what it means to have CLL and the wide range of emotions that come with the journey.
Lifestyle, Mindset, and Community: A Holistic Approach to CLL
Supporting Loved Ones Through CLL: A Care Partner’s Journey
Coping with Watch and Wait and the Delay in Starting Treatment for CLL
It is estimated that between 75% and 95% of people diagnosed with CLL do not immediately start treatment. Instead, they follow the standard of care approach known as Active Observation, also called Watch and Wait, Watch and Worry, or Active Surveillance. When receiving a diagnosis of cancer, it can be confusing and a source of anxiety to hear that you will not be given treatment right away. This is where the emotional rollercoaster with CLL begins for many patients.
In this episode, Dr. Brian Koffman is joined by guest Rick Conner, who has been on Active Observation since receiving his CLL diagnosis in 2015. Rick discusses the emotions that arose from Watch and Wait and shares advice for fellow patients on how to make the most of this time. He also highlights various resources from CLL Society that have been helpful on his journey.
Our Founder’s Emotional Journey
In this inaugural episode of CLL Society’s CareCast Podcast, Executive Director, Carly Harrington is joined by Dr. Brian Koffman, Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of CLL Society, to discuss his emotional journey with CLL. Dr. Koffman reflects on his initial diagnosis and the impact of having a strong support system and community to help him cope with the emotions he encountered. Listen to Dr. Koffman share insights from his 20-year journey living with CLL, including emotional highs and lows he has experienced, his treatment journey, relapse, and how he has navigated the complex emotions cancer has brought into his life.
Sneak Peek: Getting into the Treatment Mindset with Dr. Brian Koffman
Entering treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can be an emotional time. In this clip, Dr. Brian Koffman shares the importance of having an optimistic mindset while also setting realistic expectations.
Welcome to CareCast
Welcome to CareCast! In this introductory message, Executive Director Carly Harrington invites listeners to our new podcast, CareCast: The CLL Society Podcast. Receiving a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can evoke a range of emotions, but here at CLL Society, we want you to know that you never have to face it alone. Throughout the podcast, we will explore living with CLL through real-life stories.
This program is generously sponsored by:
