Marialice:

I went in for my yearly checkup and they did blood tests and my doctor called me that night and said “I’m putting you in touch with an oncologist because your white blood count is too high.” I was checked and they told me that I had CLL and I’ve had it for eight years now.

They told me that if you had to pick a cancer, that that was one of the slower ones, and that it would be good. I didn’t feel that way. I was, I thought, “Why would I even pick a cancer?” They said they’ll watch it, and that really bothered me because I thought, every time that I got a pain or an ache anywhere, like my toe even, I was sure that the cancer had progressed.

And the biggest thing I fought was the fatigue – and the fatigue just got worse and worse.

Mary:

The watch and wait for her, for me, was hard because you never want to have a parent struggling with a cancer and not knowing how fast it can change and how fast it can affect her.

After six years of watching and waiting, my mom’s fatigue got extremely bad to the point where simply walking out to her mailbox to get her mail was taxing.

Marialice:

It was very frustrating to feel that way and to not be able to go do anything, but you look okay. You just aren’t okay inside, and that’s hard for some people to understand.

Mary:

I was with her the day that he discussed the possibility of starting CALQUENCE. We had just suffered the loss of my dad a couple years prior to, who did go through chemo-based treatment. And to know that she could take a drug like CALQUENCE that was non-chemo–based, but would still help improve her white blood cell count was exciting to us.

Marialice:

I do bruise easily. In fact, sometimes when I get up, I don’t know where they came from, but I do have bruises. None of the side effects would ever make me say that I’m not going to take the CALQUENCE anymore.

Mary:

And six months into the CALQUENCE treatment, she was excited to go out and do things and, and enjoying things that she hadn’t been before. You could see there was a lot more energy.

Marialice:

I don’t show the white blood cell count high at all. I have every once in a while issues but I can call my doctor right away and get it taken care of. So I’m feeling really well. I can do things like shopping with my daughter or trips or something because I know that with it, I’m gonna feel better.

Mary:

I like to say I’m her biggest cheerleader, biggest supporter. We just make sure that we’re here for her for whatever she needs.

Marialice:

She’s my rock and I know that I couldn’t have gotten through it without her. I think anybody who has and goes through what I went through with this disease has to have hope. And I think that this drug will give them that hope.

Select Safety Information:

CALQUENCE is a prescription oral treatment for adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma. May cause serious side effects including: serious infections, bleeding problems, decrease in blood cell count, new cancers, and heart rhythm problems. Some may lead to death. Tell your doctor if you experience infections such as flu-like symptoms; unexpected bleeding such as blood in your stool or urine; or heart rhythm problems such as fast or irregular heartbeat. Use sun protection when outside.