Healthy Habits & Living Well With CLL
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) should not interfere with a patient’s quality of life, says Dr. Alexey Danilov, a hematologist and leading research expert at City of Hope in Los Angeles, who encourages patients to continue their usual activities and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Dr. Danilov notes that additional visits and emotional support can help patients manage anxiety after diagnosis.
- Because CLL can partially weaken the immune system, patients may be more vulnerable to respiratory infections and pneumonia, making recommended vaccinations especially important.
- Standard precautions — including washing your hands, avoiding touching your face and wearing a mask around someone who is visibly sick — can help reduce infection risk without patients having to isolate themselves.
- Regular exercise and a healthy diet remain essential. If CLL begins to disrupt daily life, patients should speak with their doctor, as treatment may be necessary.
“CLL does not compromise your quality of life. It should not,” Dr. Alexey Danilov, a world-renowned CLL researcher at City of Hope in the Los Angeles area, tells SurvivorNet. But for patients who are struggling with the diagnosis, “we try to manage their anxiety. If they require more frequent visits, that’s fine.”
Read MoreCoping With a Compromised Immune System
A compromised immune system is “very difficult to fix sometimes,” Dr. Danilov admits.Basic hygiene habits and staying up to date on recommended vaccines can go a long way.
“It doesn’t mean that you will get sick every day or every other day, and most people actually don’t get sick,” he explains. “But you may be more susceptible to upper respiratory infections; you may be more susceptible to pneumonia, and that’s where vaccinations do come in and have been shown to improve longevity in patients with CLL.”
Dr. Danilov also recommends the tried-and-true practice of washing your hands. Patients who are older or undergoing more advanced treatment should be especially cognizant of avoiding germs.
“Often it’s not so much of an issue in younger patients who just got diagnosed,” he explains, but overtime, it’s worth it to be more cautious and rigorous with standard hygiene practices and precautions. “Washing your hands, not touching your face,” Dr. Danilov adds.
CLL or Not, Use ‘Common Sense’
Dr. Danilov points out that it’s mainly just “common sense” for people.
“I often go to venues where there’s a lot of people, whether that’s a church or I don’t know, a rock concert, or getting on a plane. And I think it’s also common sense. This is where people get sick, whether you have CLL or not,” he explains.
If he is on a plane and someone is “sneezing up a storm next to me, I’m going to wear a mask and there’s nothing to be ashamed of there.”
He stresses that patients don’t have to be paranoid, but standard precautions always help.
Leading a ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ Is Key
Dr. Danilov says if CLL is starting to compromise your daily quality of life, “then you probably need treatment.”
With recent treatment developments, patients are no longer losing their lives to CLL, but maintaining healthy habits still matters.
“Exercise, regular diet is important. It is important to continue to lead a healthy lifestyle,” Dr. Danilov explains. ” … many of our patients actually don’t die of CLL, but they die of cardiac conditions if their diet and lifestyle is not healthy.”
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Who can help me manage anxiety or emotional distress related to my diagnosis?
- How might CLL affect my immune system and risk of infection?
- Which vaccinations do you recommend, and are there any I should avoid?
- What precautions should I take in crowded places or while traveling?
- Are there lifestyle, diet, or exercise changes you recommend?
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