CareCast: The CLL Society Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Entering treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can be an emotional time. In this clip, Dr. Brian Koffman shares the importance of having an optimistic mindset while also setting realistic expectations. The full episode is coming on September 17.

Welcome to CareCast! In this introductory message, Executive Director Carly Harrington invites listeners to our new podcast, CareCast: The CLL Society Podcast. Receiving a diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) can evoke a range of emotions, but here at CLL Society, we want you to know that you never have to face it alone. Throughout the podcast, we will explore living with CLL through real-life stories.

CareCast debuts September 2024.

In this inaugural episode of CLL Society’s CareCast Podcast, Executive Director, Carly Harrington is joined by Dr. Brian Koffman, Co-Founder, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of CLL Society, to discuss his emotional journey with CLL. Dr. Koffman reflects on his initial diagnosis and the impact of having a strong support system and community to help him cope with the emotions he encountered. Listen to Dr. Koffman share insights from his 20-year journey living with CLL, including emotional highs and lows he has experienced, his treatment journey, relapse, and how he has navigated the complex emotions cancer has brought into his life. 

It is estimated that between 75% and 95% of people diagnosed with CLL do not immediately start treatment. Instead, they follow the standard of care approach known as Active Observation, also called Watch and Wait, Watch and Worry, or Active Surveillance. When receiving a diagnosis of cancer, it can be confusing and a source of anxiety to hear that you will not be given treatment right away. This is where the emotional rollercoaster with CLL begins for many patients.  

In this episode, Dr. Brian Koffman is joined by guest Rick Conner, who has been on Active Observation since receiving his CLL diagnosis in 2015. Rick discusses the emotions that arose from Watch and Wait and shares advice for fellow patients on how to make the most of this time. He also highlights various resources from CLL Society that have been helpful on his journey. 

Approximately 53 million Americans serve as care partners to a loved one, with about 6 million of them providing care to individuals diagnosed with cancer. Susan Bottega is one of these dedicated care partners, supporting her husband since his diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in 2010.

She reflects on the emotional impact of the initial diagnosis, the importance of becoming well-informed about CLL as a care partner, and how advocating for her husband has shaped their journey with the disease. Susan also touches on the vital role of mental health and having a strong support system, highlighting her involvement in a CLL Society Support Group where she has both given and received invaluable advice from others navigating similar challenges.

In this discussion with CLL patient Peter Titlebaum, we explore the connection between lifestyle choices and non-medical approaches to managing chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with a particular focus on their impact on mental health. Peter is a lifelong athlete, college professor at the University of Dayton, an active member of a CLL Society Support Group, and has been living with CLL since 2018. 

Peter reflects on his personal experience, highlighting how physical activity has positively influenced his mental health. He also shares how cultivating the right mindset and building a sense of community have been integral to his emotional well-being throughout his journey with CLL. 

In the first episode of the second season of CareCast: The CLL Society Podcast, our moderator, Doreen Zetterlund, is joined by Rabbi Rebecca Kamil—a chaplain with over 10 years of experience—to discuss the emotional and spiritual challenges faced by CLL/SLL patients throughout their journey. During the conversation, Rabbi Kamil reflects on her own experiences supporting those affected by CLL/SLL.