Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that primarily affects the blood and moves slowly but can still significantly impact a person’s emotional and mental health. People living with CLL often struggle to manage their disease for an extended period of time, resulting in feelings of worry, anxiety and fear regarding the effect of their disease process on their treatment outcome and overall quality of life. As physicians and nurses improve their understanding of CLL and how it affects the body as well as the emotional state of individuals with the disease, they are now working to connect and treat the physical symptoms associated with CLL and the overall emotional wellbeing of individuals living with this disease.
The Emotional Impact of Living with CLL
Individuals living with CLL experience increased levels of both mental and emotional stress due to concerns over both how their disease is and how the disease may progress in the future. People with CLL often have difficulties with scheduling appointments to receive treatments. As a result of frequent appointments and treatment, individuals with CLL sometimes suffer from extreme fatigue, as well as sleep disruption, due to an increase in hormonal and neurochemical activity.
Moreover, due to the necessity of making multiple appointments to receive treatments, individuals with CLL may feel isolated and withdrawn from others in their community, which can have a significant impact on their self-confidence and relationships with others. Health care providers are now attempting to assist patients with CLL by developing support circles, providing education and offering counseling services to assist individuals in coping positively with the emotional impact of their disease.
Treatment Advancements and Daily Living
Recent advancements in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) have changed how physicians approach the disease by focusing on targeting cancer cells and minimizing treatment-related side effects in their patients. One such therapy is btk inhibitors for CLL while still living healthy lifestyles. As some patients will be in treatment indefinitely, it is essential for healthcare providers to assist these individuals in finding a treatment regimen that is as tolerable and effective as possible, without a significant amount of side effects.
Several studies demonstrate the strong correlation between one’s physical health and their mental well-being. Patients’ mood and general quality of life are heavily influenced by whether they are fatigued from lack of sleep or suffering from pain; conversely, if their symptoms are well managed, they are often able to engage in activities they enjoy and experience improved quality of life. Physicians and nurses are making efforts to address mental health issues among patients with CLL in order to better provide them with the needed support and education during their treatment; there are also several groups that provide education and support services for patients with CLL.
Future Direction
With increasing knowledge on CLL, doctors are now examining how patients affected by this disease feel while undergoing treatment. They wish to provide positive experiences for all patients; i.e. (helping them to achieve total satisfaction) by providing them with the tools necessary to do so.
As treatments improve and more and more emphasis is placed on mental wellbeing, doctors are developing a personal approach to treating CLL on an individual basis. The medical profession has shown an understanding of how both mental wellbeing and physical wellbeing play an important role in creating a better quality of life for individuals diagnosed with CLL.
