HCL Patient Seminar September 2014 Quality of Life Monica Else
Quality of life in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia Large trial of 777 patients from 136 centres in Argentina, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Russia, UK Comparing 3 different treatments Self-assessed quality of life questionnaire 5-year follow-up
Quality of life in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia – results Else et al, Leuk Lymphoma, 53: ; 2012 The coloured boxes denote a statistically significant difference between groups (10 points or more, p<0.01)
Quality of life in leukaemia: the long term
What are the implications for HCL?
Duration of remission in HCL Dearden et al, Leuk Lymphoma, 52(S2): 21-24; 2011
How do you make sure you have a CR? Bone marrow biopsy Further treatment if only a PR
Conclusions Having severe symptoms at the outset does not predict poor quality of life in the longer term Disease progression and relapse are associated with poor quality of life Long-term remission equates with good quality of life (“getting your life back”) and should be the aim of therapy