Hi, my name is Suze, and my Dad had Waldenstrom's for 10 years - this is really going back since he died in 2000 at age 73.  But each year he took oral medication (I don't know the name) but the last year he didn't take it, his decline was evident.  He had blood transfusions, plasma exchange, but nothing helped.  The blood transfusions naturally did nothing since it was already blood cancer.  Additionally, the risk may be higher if you have a family history of autoimmune conditions.  Your body mistakenly attacks healthy cells  My sister and I both have autoimmune diseases - one of mine is a rare disease called pityriasis lichenoides where white blood cells have been attacking my skin for the past 15 years.  This also is incurable, but I was told not fatal.

Anyway, I still miss my handsome Dad even after 23 years, and he left us far too soon.