I was started on Calquence 100 mg 2xs a day. My numbers since starting in June have gone from 254,000 to 54,000 this last draw. I am feeling so much more energy! A side effect was a short lasting skin papule. Otherwise except for fatigue, good. Swollen spleen and under arm swelling gone. Looking back I wish I had started earlier!

Hi Allen2, I am 71 and in "watchful waiting" with CLL. I've been very lucky so far with blood counts. Just spurts of fatigue (Maybe that is an oxymoron??). I understand your concern about the body's reaction to chemo. Me too! I hear that more things are available that do a good job of targeting the problem cells. I look forward to learning more about that!

Thanks much for the comments. I am overall healthy and very active. However, I am 71 and concerned about bodies reaction to chemo.

Hi Allen2, My husband (41) was diagnosed in Feb of this year he was in decent health but has swollen symphonies, and his spleen was enlarged, wbc was very high. He was started on 3 weeks of immunotherapy infusions of Rituximab. And was taking AllopurinolI pills the infusion was introduced slowly to monitor any side effects which he had only minor ones during treatment where we would stop let his body calm and then finish the dose. These included rash, and shortness of breath and chills. It did make him sleepy. After the first full dose, his liver levels were high and it did require a hospital stay for a days as they were concerned about him getting an infection. Thankfully it was a side effect to the meds and not an outside infection. He started taking injections of zarxio 3x a week, to boost his immune system and was able to complete the 6 monthly infusions in Aug. Now he is only taking oral meds for the rest of his year long treatment plan and the injections are down to 2x a week.
He's been doing very well, he's been tired more but is now a month since his last infusion and is exercising more, his diet is good and he has been able to enjoy his daily life with minimal disruptions.
I hope this helps. I have to say we were concerned about how treatment would affect him but we've been pleasantly surprised by how well he's been doing while in treatment. Hope you have similar good outcomes.

My oncologist is planning to do the same.