Las Vegas, Valley of Fire, CLL lecture

Arch at Valley of Fire State Park 50 miles outside of Las Vegas

Been in Las Vegas to lecture for continuing medical education (CME). Staying at the Vdara which is a non smoking hotel with no casino.

That part is good. I can even find organic raw and vegan food.

But Vegas is crazy and crowded with falling down drunk people. The traffic is ludicrous. The prices are incredible. The lights and noise are overwhelming. Last night it took 45 minutes to drive two blocks because Kaskade was DJing at the hotel next door. Don't tell me your don't know who Kaskae is? The short tight black club dresses that everyone and I mean everyone is wearing make the 60s mini skirt looks like a nun's habit.

I so feel that I don't belong here. Am I getting old or what?

But there is a lovely view from the 51st floor of the fountains at the Bellagio and the drives to the amazing red rock parks nearby has made the trip. I love the desert. So calm and quiet and austere.

By the end of June I will have lectured to well over a 1000 primary care providers on CLL and its emerging therapies.

My lecture here was focused on what a primary care provider needs to know about CLL to best care for his patients. I also want the audience to know how the future of CLL in particular, cancer  in general, and medicine universally is moving away from blunt therapies such as chemo and towards targeted treatment such as ibrutinib.

I was pleasantly surprised by the strong level of interest in the topic by healthcare professionals whose roles may often be more supportive in treating these patients.

I am continuing to do well on my ibrutinib- mild gut issues, but shrinking nodes.

Tomorrow I will be in Ohio meeting with some dear CLL friends who will driving in from the east.

Soon I will blog more on how I see ibrutinib fitting in the world of CLL therapy and will post an update after my Tuesday clinic visit.