Stan Kurtz's Swim Catalina for Leukemia

07/18/2025

I ’m delighted to share that the CLL Patient Charter has been published in the Leukemia & Lymphoma journal.

Co-created with a dedicated multi-disciplinary group from the global CLL community, this Charter truly reflects the views of our community, outlining six essential principles that everyone living with CLL deserves through their healthcare journey:

#1 I deserve access to shared decision-making throughout my care pathway
#2 I deserve an accurate and definitive diagnosis
#3 I deserve high-quality information, tailored to my needs and care pathway, in a language understood by me
#4 I deserve access to affordable, effective care and a full range of specialists to support me through my cancer journey
#5 I deserve emotional and psychological support from clinicals, allied health professionals and support networks
#6 I deserve access to a model of care that recognises CLL’s total impact, including its secondary effects and complications

These principles reflect patient priorities, clinical best practices, and the realities faced within healthcare systems.

The Charter is a powerful reminder of the importance of listening to those living with CLL. While healthcare systems vary worldwide, the Charter identifies these universal priorities to guide meaningful improvements everywhere.

So far, we have received endorsements from 16 patient advocacy and medical associations.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the experts, advocates, and patients whose voices and insights made this possible, especially those who co-authored the journal article with me in my role as lead author: Lorna Warwick, Peter Haggert, Dr Piers E.M. Patten, Dr Catherine Moura, Dr Carolyn Owen, Comfort Maluleke, Vandana Gupta, Felice Bombaci, Dr John F Seymour and Yasmine Hassan.

Together, we can continue to push for care that listens, adapts, and empowers.

Read the full article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10428194.2025.2521656



Dr. Brian Koffman

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)is the most common leukemia in adults in Western countries, and its incidence is increasing. It is a complex, chronic disease with highly variable behavior. People...

09/12/2024

Dr. Sarah Kerr, PhD - The Centre for Sacred Deathcare
11h ·
When we're going through a difficult time, maybe around illness or death, we often hear from well-meaning friends, that we should “stay strong”. “Stay strong,” “You can handle it,” they say to us.
I want to talk a bit about what staying strong means, because I think we often understand it to mean rigid, that we stand up, we don't crumple, we keep our feelings under control. We are reliable, we go to work, we show up, we live our lives as if nothing has changed us. I want to suggest that staying strong is perhaps better interpreted in a different way, which is being able to have the strength and the courage to face what's coming, to allow ourselves to be undone, to let ourselves cry, when we live in a culture that often doesn't support or encourage free expression of those important emotions.
As those whom know me, let me sign off as I often do:
Stay strong, we are all in this together
Brian Koffman

05/12/2024

It's not too late to support CLL Society's 5K. Here we are (Dr. Danilov, his wife, and youngest daughter, and Patty and me before we started our walk

05/10/2024

Tomorrow I'll be walking my 5K for CLL Society's Celebrating Long Lives 5K event. I'm so proud of how has grown over the years and all we are accomplishing for CLL patients to make their lives better. We are grateful for any support you can contribute. https://charity.pledgeit.org/f/p3OTTMMvU2

Thank you for supporting my participation in CLL Society's Celebrating Long Live virtual 5K! On May 11th I'll be participating in a 5K in support of the 200,000 individuals living with the incurable blood cancers chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL). All funds raised...

08/15/2018

Photos Courtesy of Paiwei Wei

08/15/2018

Here's the news cast of the swim courtesy of KTLA.

08/09/2018

Cover story of the Beach Reporter...