- New insights uncover how patients and caregivers cope
emotionally during phases of Chronic Lymphocytic
Leukemia (CLL)
- The findings also show
majority of HCPs view treating CLL patients as different from
treating other cancers
- The emotional complexities of
this slow-growing cancer point to patient and caregiver need for
greater support from HCPs at time of diagnosis
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill.,
June 24, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --
AbbVie today shared findings from the newly launched
Emotional Impact Report, a survey of more than 300 chronic
lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients, caregivers and healthcare
providers (HCPs), which uncovered insights about the emotional
journey associated with a CLL diagnosis.
CLL is a slow-growing form of blood cancer in which the bone
marrow makes too many lymphocytes, a type of white blood
cell.1 CLL progresses much slower than other forms of
leukemia and many do not experience symptoms for several years.
This leads to disease management with an approach called "watch and
wait" in which the disease progression is monitored until treatment
is deemed necessary.2
A CLL diagnosis can take a mental and emotional toll on
patients, caregivers and HCPs and the Emotional Impact
Report seeks to better understand that impact, raise awareness
of the need for additional support and the importance of
considering overall Quality of Life when making treatment
decisions.3
Among a sample of 111 CLL patients, emotions ranged from angry
and bitter to optimistic and grateful. For those CLL patients who
were newly diagnosed and/or told by their HCP to watch and wait,
many may feel hopeful (41%) and optimistic (36%), expressing they
are looking forward to the future success of their treatment and
their long-term prognosis. And once patients first receive
treatment, many (42%) feel positive, including mentions of feeling
confident, satisfied, or relieved as they see the medication
working. Others mention feeling anxious, never knowing when they
will need treatment again and not knowing what is next, further
reinforcing the variation and complexity of emotions experienced by
CLL patients.
"These findings highlight the ups and downs CLL patients can go
through from potentially waiting to start treatment to the prospect
of being on continuous therapy," said Ahmed
Kotb, vice president, US medical affairs, oncology, AbbVie.
"But patients don't have to navigate a disease like CLL on their
own. Based on insights from the Emotional Impact Report,
there is an opportunity for increased dialogue between patients and
their physicians to set treatment goals and understand available
treatment options."
Furthermore, HCPs understand the importance of talking to their
patients about the emotional impact of CLL. In fact, 71% said they
are likely to discuss the emotional impact of CLL with their
patients. Specifically, 90% recognize that a patient's emotional
well-being has an impact on their treatment plan. Physicians cited
specific impacts, including adherence to treatment, ability to cope
with treatment and how they respond to treatment. HCPs recognize
that treating a CLL patient differs from treating other cancer
patients, in that CLL is treated similarly to the way a chronic
disease is treated, which increases the need to consider Quality of
Life when making treatment decisions.
Among a sample of 100 caregivers, most (81%) feel positively
about caring for someone with CLL and feel it is their duty to help
their loved one. Yet, nearly three in four state that being a
caregiver is more difficult than expected. As one caregiver noted,
the biggest reason why they are nervous in their role is because
they don't know what's going to happen from one minute to the
next.
This U.S.-based survey was conducted between March 11 – April 7,
2022, and responses were obtained from 313 participants,
which included 111 CLL patients, 100 caregivers and 102 HCPs. The
online survey was sponsored by AbbVie and developed in consultation
with C Space.
To learn more about CLL, navigating a diagnosis and
understanding treatment goals, visit CLLCancer.com.
About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
CLL is one of the
two most common forms of leukemia in adults and is a type of cancer
that can develop from cells in the bone marrow that later mature
into certain white blood cells (called lymphocytes).1
While these cancer cells start in the bone marrow, they later
spread into the blood. In 2019, there were approximately 200,766
people with CLL living in the United
States with more than 20,000 new cases expected in
2022.4 CLL is predominately a disease of the elderly,
with a median age at diagnosis of 65 to 70 years and is more common
among men than women.5
About the Survey
Participants in the 31-35-question
self-administered online survey included three groups, each with
its own set and number of survey questions: patients, caregivers,
and physicians who specialize in treating cancer. The patient group
(n = 111) and the caregiver group (n = 100) included adults ages 18
and older from the U.S., and the physician group (n = 102) included
board-certified hematologic oncologists, hematologists or medical
oncologists who had treated at least five patients with CLL in the
previous 12 months in the U.S. All surveys were completed between
March 11, 2022, and April 7, 2022. Using the field services of C
Space, the surveys asked both qualitative and quantitative
questions. This online survey is not based on a probability sample
and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be
calculated.
About C Space
C Space is a global customer agency,
that builds customers into the ways companies work.
Working with some of the world's best-known brands – including
Walmart, McDonald's, IKEA and more – C Space builds the world's
most relevant brands by unlocking the power of human relationships.
By building ongoing relationships with customers, brands can stay
relevant, deliver superior experiences, and build loyalty. C
Space's customized customer programs are tailored based on specific
business needs and include private online communities, in-person
live events, visual storytelling, co-creation workshops, and
business consulting.
Headquartered in Boston, C
Space also has offices in London,
New York, Tokyo, San
Francisco, and Mexico City.
C Space is a part of the Interbrand Group.
To learn more, visit www.cspace.com
About AbbVie
AbbVie's mission is to discover and
deliver innovative medicines that solve serious health issues today
and address the medical challenges of tomorrow. We strive to have a
remarkable impact on people's lives across several key therapeutic
areas: immunology, oncology, neuroscience, eye care, virology,
women's health and gastroenterology, in addition to products and
services across its Allergan Aesthetics portfolio. For more
information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow
@abbvie on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and
LinkedIn.
References:
- American Cancer Society. Leukemia – Chronic Lymphocytic
Leukemia.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/about/what-is-cll.html.
Accessed June 2022.
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – CLL: Watch and Wait.
https://www.lls.org/leukemia/chronic-lymphocytic-leukemia/treatment/watch-and-wait.
Accessed June 2022.
- C Space Database [Data on File].
- National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Leukemia -
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/clyl.html. Accessed
June 2022.
- Shanafelt, et al. Age at Diagnosis and the Utility of
Prognostic Testing in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
(CLL). Cancer. 2010; 116(20): 4777–4787.
US-ONCC-220026
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SOURCE AbbVie