CLL

I'm new to this page and I am kind of hoping to get some advice. I shall start from the beginning so it makes sense. So my Mother (58) went to the doctors as she was suffering with bad chest pains. The nurse who saw her said her lungs weren't clear so she wanted to refer her to the hospital for a scan. Once she had the scan, she was told there was a dark mass on her lung so she needed to have a CT scan and blood tests. On her next visit to the hopital she got told that all her lymph nodes were swollen so she would need more blood tests. The doctor had then told her she may have CLL but until she has a biopsy done on her lymph nodes, they won't know for definite. A few weeks passed, and she got the results back that she's definitely got CLL and a very high white blood count and a swollen spleen . Again, they needed to investigate further to find out the extent of the luekemia. She had a bone marrow biopsy which we are still waiting for the results for and then she had to have another CT scan the following week on her neck as she has another swollen lymph node. She has to see the specialist on the 3rd January so I can only assume she will be told the results and what treatment she will need etc on that day. I suppose what I'm asking for is someone to talk to who's been through this and understands this. I'm very close to my mother and we do talk about this, but half the time I feel as though she's in denial as she hasn't got no symptoms of the disease. I can't really express my concerns to my partner, brothers or father as I feel they will tell me what I want to hear. I want to be strong for my mother and prepare myself if the time does come and she can't take no more. Thanks for taking the time to read this post.

  • Hi Michelle,  your Mum isn't in denial she's trying to accept all the information she's been bombarded with over the past weeks and will also be wondering what she will be told next week.  My husband didn't want to talk about it either,  just be there to listen and support her.  Most people want to try and live Normally until they have a treatment plan.  She may be told this in a few days time, things will be clearer so there's not much else to do until then.  I've been coping with this for nearly 30 months and I take it a day at a time.  There is a lot of help out there so see what's said then if you are struggling come back again and we'll try to help you.  Take care  Carol