• LLS
  • Team In Training
  • Light The Night
  • Man & Woman of the Year
  • Students of the Year
  • Regatta
  • Hero Squad
  • Lifestyle
  • Big Climb
  • Community
  • Careers at LLS
  • Donate
  • Menu
  • About LLS

    Who We Are

    • Our History
    • Leadership
    • Financials
    • Our Commitment

    Our Mission

    • Research
    • Policy & Advocacy
    • Patient Support

    Contact Us

    • My Chapter
    • Our Regions
    • News Network
    • Partner With LLS
    • Blogs
    • Work at LLS
  • Patients
    & caregivers

    Disease Information

    • Leukemia
    • Lymphoma
    • Myeloma
    • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
    • Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
    • Facts & Statistics
    • Children and Young Adults
    • Newly Diagnosed
    • Managing Your Cancer
    • Treatment
    • Clinical Trials

    Support Resources

    • Contact an Information Specialist
    • Financial Support
    • Online Chats
    • Support Groups
    • Peer-to-Peer Support
    • Caregiver Support
    • Nutrition Consultations
    • LLS Patient Community
    • Podcast
    • Other Helpful Organizations
    • Suggested Reading
    • LLS Health Manager™ App

    Education Resources

    • Information Booklets
    • Webcasts
    • Videos
    • 3D Model Library
    • Drug Listings
    • Blood Cancer Conferences
  • Researchers &
    Healthcare Professionals

    Academic Grants

    • Academic Grant Programs
    • Apply for an Academic Grant

    Therapy Acceleration Program

    • Portfolio
    • The Team
    • Latest News
    • How To Apply

    Resources for HCPs

    • Continuing Education Programs
    • Continuing Medical Education Programs
    • Free Publications
    • Podcast
    • Patient Referral Form
    • Trish Greene Back to School Program
  • How to help

    Ways to Give

    • Donate Online
    • Monthly Giving
    • Donor-Advised Funds
    • Employee Matching Gifts
    • Wills, Trusts, and Annuities
    • Stock Transfer
    • Tribute Gifts
    • Donate by Mail

    Fundraise

    • Fundraising Events
    • Create a Tribute Page
    • Create Your Own Fundraiser

    Volunteer

    • Volunteer

    Advocate

    • Take Action
    • Sign Up to Be an Advocate

    Shop

    • LLS Store
    • Charitable Shopping
  • Donate
  • About LLS
    • Who We Are
      • Our History
      • Leadership
      • Financials
      • Our Commitment
    • Our Mission
      • Research
      • Policy & Advocacy
      • Patient Support
    • Contact Us
      • My Chapter
      • Our Regions
      • News Network
      • Partner With LLS
      • Blogs
      • Work at LLS
  • Patients & caregivers
    • Disease Information
      • Leukemia
      • Lymphoma
      • Myeloma
      • Myelodysplastic Syndromes
      • Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
      • Facts & Statistics
      • Children and Young Adults
      • Newly Diagnosed
      • Managing Your Cancer
      • Treatment
      • Clinical Trials
    • Support Resources
      • Contact an Information Specialist
      • Financial Support
      • Online Chats
      • Support Groups
      • Peer-to-Peer Support
      • Caregiver Support
      • Nutrition Consultations
      • LLS Patient Community
      • Podcast
      • Other Helpful Organizations
      • Suggested Reading
      • LLS Health Manager™ App
    • Education Resources
      • Information Booklets
      • Webcasts
      • Videos
      • 3D Model Library
      • Drug Listings
      • Blood Cancer Conferences
  • Researchers & Healthcare Professionals
    • Academic Grants
      • Academic Grant Programs
      • Apply for an Academic Grant
    • Therapy Acceleration Program
      • Portfolio
      • The Team
      • Latest News
      • How To Apply
    • Resources for HCPs
      • Continuing Education Programs
      • Continuing Medical Education Programs
      • Free Publications
      • Podcast
      • Patient Referral Form
      • Trish Greene Back to School Program
  • How to help
    • Ways to Give
      • Donate Online
      • Monthly Giving
      • Donor-Advised Funds
      • Employee Matching Gifts
      • Wills, Trusts, and Annuities
      • Stock Transfer
      • Tribute Gifts
      • Donate by Mail
    • Fundraise
      • Fundraising Events
      • Create a Tribute Page
      • Create Your Own Fundraiser
    • Volunteer
      • Volunteer
    • Advocate
      • Take Action
      • Sign Up to Be an Advocate
    • Shop
      • LLS Store
      • Charitable Shopping
  • Partners
    • LLS
    • Team In Training
    • Light The Night
    • Man & Woman of the Year
    • Students of the Year
    • Regatta
    • Hero Squad
    • Lifestyle
    • Big Climb
    Community Careers at LLS Language
    • English
    • Spanish
    • Canadian English
    • French Canadian

I am a Patient looking for Disease/Treatment Information related to

En Español
  • Who We Are All Survivor Stories Howie

Howie

Leukemia Survivor

Mill Creek, WA

  • Print

In January 2014 I got pneumonia for the third in under two years. The hematologists examined my blood and suspected CLL, since my white-blood count was so low. Then a bone-marrow biopsy confirmed this. This certainly explained my inability to fight infections. I skipped all the steps in the grieving process and went straight to acceptance: It is what it is.

Since I was out in the Seattle area with my daughters and grandchildren, I ended up staying out here for my treatment. So, I had not been home to Illinois in over ten months, but being with my kids and grandkids has helped me emotionally.

My first treatment in February 2014 was a biologic called Rituxan, which helped for a while. Then the oncologist upped the treatment to include a chemo called Bendamustine. The treatments were tolerable: no vomiting, no nausea, no hair loss. I was generally able to take walks, and I never really lost my appetite, although in retrospect, my wife and children claimed they had to remind me to eat. Soon my swollen lymph nodes began to shrink, and my blood numbers improved. In October 2014 I had another bone-marrow biopsy, and a week later I had another CT scan.

On November 4, 2014, I found out that the biopsy showed no evidence of cancer, and the CT scan also showed that things were normal. So, the doctor declared that I was in complete remission!

Apparently, I'll never be truly cancer-free, but remission is okay. I still have to get checked by the oncologist on a regular basis (four times a year), and have been remission now for five years.

Previous StoryLia
Next StoryReese
Previous StoryLia
Next StoryReese

Follow us

Sign up for latest news

Subscribe

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is a global leader in the fight against cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world, provides free information and support services, and is the voice for all blood cancer patients seeking access to quality, affordable, coordinated care.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all monetary donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by tax laws. Please check with your financial advisor if you have more questions.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Security
  • Copyright
  • Link Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Public Disclosure
  • Fundraising Disclosure
  • Refund Policy
  • Work for LLS
  • Contact Us