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When blood cancer does not go away

Cancer isn’t always a one-time event. Some cancers can be closely monitored and treated, but will not completely go away. They can be treated like a chronic illness, much like diabetes or heart disease. The cancer may be controlled or managed with treatment but it may not completely go away and stay away.

Watch and Wait

You may be worried if your doctor suggests that you wait before starting treatment. Watch and wait is an approach where your doctor monitors your cancer closely and delays treatment until the disease progresses.
It is often used at the beginning of slow-growing or chronic blood cancers, such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and some subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Watch & Wait (active surveillance)

Factsheet
Learn about the watch and wait approach, understand the benefits and find out what it means for you.
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Pain Management

Factsheet
This fact sheet will help you learn about pain and blood cancers, get an overview of the impact and types of possible pain and much more.
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Understanding cancer related fatigue and brain fog

Booklet
Learn about chemo brain and fatigue due to treatments, what it means, causes, side effects and how to cope.
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Managing Long Term Side Effects with Amy Pulsifer

Podcast
Amy Pulsifer talks about her experience managing long term effects due to her Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
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Managing your chronic cancer during a pandemic – A Conversation with Scott Bellerby

Podcast
Scott Bellerby, outpatient hematology nurse at the Tom Baker Cancer Center in Calgary, talks to us about the ways this pandemic has affected how we manage a chronic blood cancer and provides some insights on how we can continue to care for ourselves effectively.
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Cancer-Related Fatigue

Podcast
Rachelle Ramsay is a RN with her Certification in Oncology, currently working at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre. Kent Parlee recently celebrated 36 years of marriage to his wife and best friend Cheryl. Kent and Cheryl enjoy spending time with family, travelling and volunteering at home and abroad. Kent is a CLL survivor.
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Eric Pitters - CLL Watch and Wait

Podcast
It's not at all surprising that when Eric Pitters was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) he told his doctor, "I've got a cancer and I want it treated now." However, his doctor explained that it would be best to use an approach called Watch & Wait. Several studies have shown that early treatment does not have benefits for low-risk blood cancer…
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Living with a Chronic Blood Cancer

Webcast
In this webcast, nurse and psychotherapist Bonney Elliott addresses the psychosocial impacts of living with a chronic blood cancer on quality of life, stress, and social and family relationships.
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Understanding Chronic Cancer

Video
Learn ways to live better with a chronic cancer.
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When Cancer Takes an Emotional Toll on You

Webcast
A blood cancer diagnosis may unexpectedly pause some of your life goals and cause you a great deal of worry. As you navigate cancer treatment, it’s important to look after your mental health. Treatment for depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has important benefits for people living with cancer.
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Sleeping well with blood cancer, not always that easy

Webcast
Sleep problems such as insomnia, poor sleep quality, and irregular sleep-wake patterns are common in people with a blood cancer. Join Dr. Sheila Garland to learn about what’s getting in the way of a good night’s rest, and how to manage the underlying problems so you can enjoy more restorative sleep.
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Blood Cancer and Sexuality – What You Need to Know

Webcast
Going through a blood cancer may affect your relationship and sex life. Some treatment-related side effects can resolve over time, but others may be long-lasting. Join us for a discussion on how cancer and its treatment can affect sexual function and intimacy.
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Managing How You Look and Feel During and After Cancer Treatment

Webcast
Sometimes the best medicine doesn't always come in a bottle. Look Good Feel Better (LGFB) knows this and is dedicated to helping women with cancer feel like themselves again. Learn some tips and techniques to take care of yourself and feel empowered.
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Nutrition: The Power for Strength & Wellness in Blood Cancer

Webcast
Good nutrition is important throughout your cancer experience. Join Margaret Martin, RD, MS, LDN, CDCES to learn about the role nutrition plays in promoting health and wellness in people affected by a blood cancer.
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Fear of Cancer Recurrence

Video
Learn more about the fear of recurrence.
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Managing Pain

You are not alone.

Connect with a First Connection volunteer to learn about someone who has been through watch and wait or has adapted to a life with a blood cancer.
Access one-on-one personalized support

Experiences of others with a chronic blood cancer

Philippe Villemure      

Philippe Villemure

It’s important not to isolate yourself, to go to peer support group meetings and to eat healthy and exercise.

Quebec City QC
Canada

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Chronic or Slow Growing Blood Cancers

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