Monday, September 7, 2015

Live from IwCLL 2015, Sydney, Australia: The latest news in chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Faculty for the Lymphoma Australia/CLL Society Patient Forum
Drs. Trotman (U. of Sydney) Bill Wierda (MDACC), Wiestner (NIH) and Koffman (CLL Society)


There is nothing like being at the live meeting. Nothing.

You can't mail it in. You can't send your team.

iwCLL 2015 is nothing if not intense.

When you sit in the plenary sessions, when you hear the tough questions, when you grab the doctors and researchers between sessions to hear their unrehearsed take on the latest data, you get a raw glimpse of where things are going for those of us with CLL. And let me tell you, it's going in the right direction.

I attend this meeting with a closet full of different hats: as a patient so I can learn what I need to know to stay alive, as a doctor for my patients with CLL, as an advocate to fight for patients' voices, as a reporter to bring you the latest news, as the medical director of a nonprofit forge new alliances, as an educator and moderator as a very successful groundbreaking CLL patient forum (the first ever held in conjunction with iwCLL) , as interviewee on the patient's perceptive for other news agencies, and as faculty giving a keynote lecture on how the cost of our meds effects us patients.

No wonder I am tired.

Let me just give some teasers on the news.
  1. The consensus is growing that the role of chemotherapy in treating our disease is shrinking fast.
  2. Novel therapies will be moving frontline. 
  3. Better second generation novel therapies are coming. 
  4. Figuring out the best combinations and sequencing of novel agents is the basis of many new trials aiming for limited duration therapy and a cure.

The future is bright, but only if we keep funding the necessary research with the investigators designing the best patient friendly trials and us patients volunteering for them.

Stay tuned for much news here and of course on the CLL Society website.

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9 Comments:

Blogger Dr. La Verne said...

Say "Hello" to Dr. Wiestner from patient B22. He is a top-notch researcher and a caring human being. Dr. Brian, you are in good company. :-)

September 7, 2015 at 8:20 AM  
Blogger Tom said...

I like it I love it I want some more of it...Keep the good news coming!

September 7, 2015 at 7:47 PM  
Blogger Beverley Paine said...

Just wanted to say you are one of my heroes Brian, thank you for everything you do for the rest of us. And please, if you can, take some time out of your busy schedule to enjoy some of our Aussie air and (hopefully!) relax.

September 7, 2015 at 8:54 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Your the best, thanks for all that you do Brian. You bring a bright light to my day!

September 8, 2015 at 7:39 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Brian
also say a big hello to Dr. Wierda from one of his patients... he is head of my team!

September 8, 2015 at 7:44 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Brian. Thanks for all you do for us and for wearing all those hats. You made my decisions easier and so much more informed. This blog, the CLLSOCIETY.COM Website and the Tuesday night support group at UCI have been a GOLD MINE for this Cucamonga guy now deciding on first treatment. Larry Hirschler

September 12, 2015 at 9:13 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Brian. Thanks for all you do for us and for wearing all those hats. You made my decisions easier and so much more informed. This blog, the CLLSOCIETY.COM Website and the Tuesday night support group at UCI have been a GOLD MINE for this Cucamonga guy now deciding on first treatment. Larry Hirschler

September 12, 2015 at 9:14 AM  
Blogger Matchfinder Katy said...

Read latest interesting news and articles on the verge.

October 18, 2015 at 10:41 AM  
Blogger chandu said...

When you sit in the plenary sessions, when you hear the tough questions, when you grab the doctors and researchers between sessions to hear their unrehearsed take on the latest data, you get a raw glimpse of where things are going for those of us with CLL.

Live in care jobs

July 11, 2016 at 10:55 PM  

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