His neck and underarms were swollen. His skin itched, particularly on his arms. Sleeping at night was impossible.

His symptoms started when he was 50. Though he had been fit and healthy all his life, he had contracted chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or CLL, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow – the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made, according to mayoclinic.org.

CLL affects a group of white blood cells called lymphocytes, which help the body fight infection. It produces abnormal, ineffective lymphocytes. The abnormal cells may eventually crowd out the healthy cells, killing the patient.

His first chemotherapy treatment eased his symptoms quickly. He was symptom-free for almost one year. But the abnormal cells continued to multiply.

His second chemo treatment staved them off for five more months – but the challenge with........

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