Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)

What is chronic myeloid Leukemia?

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is an uncommon type of cancer that affects the blood cells and bone marrow. Also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia, the disease starts with a problem in the genes of blood cells. Sections of two different chromosomes switch places and make a new abnormal one. This new chromosome leads the body to make white blood cells called leukemia cells that don’t work properly and when they show up in the bloodstream, there is less room for healthy blood cells.

What causes chronic myeloid leukemia? Who is affected?

The cause of chronic myeloid leukemia is unknown. The only known risk is in contact with high levels of radiation. Chronic myeloid leukemia typically affects older adults and rarely affects kids, but can occur at any age.

What are the symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia?

Symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia include:

• Easy bleeding
• Feeling run-down or tired
• Fever
• Losing weight without trying
• Loss of appetite
• Pain or fullness below the ribs on the left side
• Pale skin
• Sweating excessively during sleep (night sweats)

How is chronic myeloid leukemia treated?

There are many different treatments for chronic myeloid leukemia. Some treatments may include:

• Targeted drugs
• Blood stem cell transplant
• Chemotherapy
• Biological therapy
• Clinical trails