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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).

Read

Watch & Wait (active surveillance)

Factsheet
Learn about the watch and wait approach, understand the benefits and find out what it means for you.
download Watch & Wait (active surveillance)

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.
download Pain Management

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.
download Understanding cancer related fatigue and brain fog

Listen

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).
download Managing Long Term Side Effects with Amy Pulsifer

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 mana…
download Managing your chronic cancer during a pandemic – A Conversation with Scott Bellerby

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 o…
download Cancer-Related Fatigue

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 wan…
download Eric Pitters - CLL Watch and Wait

Watch

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, s…
watch Living with a Chronic Blood Cancer

Understanding Chronic Cancer

Video
Learn ways to live better with a chronic cancer.
watch Understanding Chronic Cancer

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 impo…
watch When Cancer Takes an Emotional Toll on You

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…
watch Sleeping well with blood cancer, not always that easy

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 lon…
watch Blood Cancer and Sexuality – What You Need to Know

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 …
watch Managing How You Look and Feel During and After Cancer Treatment

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 prom…
watch Nutrition: The Power for Strength & Wellness in Blood Cancer

Fear of Cancer Recurrence

Video
Learn more about the fear of recurrence.
watch Fear of Cancer Recurrence

Managing Pain

Watch

Managing chronic pain after treatment or with a chronic cancer / Your life after cancer conference 2022

Webcast
Effectively managing chronic pain after treatment or with a chronic cancer should take into consideration the physical, emotional, social and spiritual …
watch Managing chronic pain after treatment or with a chronic cancer / Your life after cancer conference 2022

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 CityQC
Canada

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Chronic or Slow Growing Blood Cancers

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