Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) is a form of leukaemia where you have an increase in your white blood cells.
In CML, your bone marrow (the spongey part inside your bones) is producing too many myeloid cells, which are underdeveloped white blood cells that don’t work properly.
CML often develops slowly over several years, and is most common in people aged between 60 – 65.
Roughly, CML makes up 15 out of 100 leukaemia cases.
The majority of CML patients are asymptomatic, meaning little to no symptoms, and CML is only picked up through a blood test from their GP.
For some, where they have a much higher count of white blood cells, some patients experience:
– pain from an enlarged spleen
– Anemia
– Tiredness
– Bone pains
Treatment depends on if you’re asymptomatic or have a very high white blood cell count.
If you have a very high blood count, you could be put on a special machine that helps to skim off some of the extra white blood cells.
You could also be given medication to control and bring the white blood cell count down.
The majority of patients receiving treatment for CML will often have very mild side effects.
Some side effects could include:
– aches and pains in your muscles
– face swelling
– rashes
– Indigestion
There are trials looking at how to stop therapy and who can stop and who can’t.
There are also studies looking at new drugs and treatments, especially for those patients who aren’t responding as well to the currently drugs as others.
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