Chronic Lymphatic Leukaemia

deeksofdoom

My father was diagnosed with chronic lymphatic leukaemia back in 2007. Its probably the least serious form of cancer you can get. Since then the hospital has been monitoring his white cell count, but they have been increasing. He now has to get a Radium injection. My parents can't talk about it, they don't understand what's going on and are upset about the whole thing, I can't get any information on this from them so I don't know how serious things are.

Does anybody know what this Radium injection is about? how critical are things now? I can only guess that if he's getting treatment that things aren't so bad, has anyone got any info on this?.....please!

lonestargirl

Unfortunately nobody here is going to be able to give you any medical advice. There are many different radionuclide injections that your father may be scheduled to get, some are therapeutic and some are only diagnostic.

My advice is to ring your father's doctor and either (a) arrange to go into visit in clinic with your parents to discuss your father's treatment or (b) your doctor may be able to discuss this with you over the phone (they will want to get your father's permission first to do this).

lonestargirl

Just thought of something else:

Does the hospital your father attends have a leukemia CNS (clinical nurse specialist)? If so contact them and they will arrange a clinic appointment or have the doctor call you (that way the doctor will have a chance to read your father's notes and get his permission before talking to you).

DrIndy

All oncology units have Clinical Nurse Specialists attached to them and they are the fountain of all knowledge regarding this. If they can't give full details, then they can arrange seeing someone who does on the medical team.

In addition - they are generally easier to contact and usually you can just phone them.

deeksofdoom

Thanks for the replies guys, I'll try ringing the hospital.