More bad news.
After a 10 year struggle, a young friend (in his mid 40s) with very young children, a fellow MD with CLL, just passed away from complications of his leukemia.
Being a doctor, even a very smart Harvard trained doctor, and being treated at world class medical centers and making all the smart decisions, and getting randomized to the "right" arm of the trial, and getting the best possible therapies and living a clean lifestyle and having the love of your family and friends and the respect of your colleagues and the prayers of many, none of it provided a free pass.
This is the second doctor/patient that I personally have known that succumb to this disease.
When it comes to CLL there is no immunity. Double entendre definitely intended.
I hate this cancer.
Mostly I am just so sad for his wife and his children and the rest of his family.
And angry (but I am not sure at what- the cancer I guess).
And so motivated to do what can be done to increase all our odds of avoiding a premature death. It's possible. It's close. But we are not there yet.
My prayers goes out to his loved ones.If you want a personal response, or just want to stay in touch, please email me at bkoffmanMD@gmail.com. I have no other way of contacting. Thanks. Stay strong. After all, we are all in this together.