Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Bone marrow produces most of the body's blood cells, starting with immature blood stem cells called blast cells. When something goes wrong in certain genes of blood cells being made, a type of cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), can develop. Although CML is one of the four main types of leukemia, it's uncommon. CML usually occurs during or after middle age, and rarely in children, according to the National Cancer Institute (2009).

Although its cause is unknown, CML usually occurs in people who have a chromosome abnormality called the Philadelphia chromosome. The bone marrow starts to make too many white blood cells called granulocytes. These granulocytes are abnormal and do not become healthy white blood cells. For this reason, CML is also called chronic granulocytic leukemia. With CML, leukemia tends to progress more slowly than with acute leukemia.

Symptoms and Phases of CML

Early CML often doesn't have obvious symptoms. If signs and symptoms do occur, however, they may include:

• Easy bleeding
• Feeling tired all the time
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Night sweats
• Pain or a feeling of fullness below the ribs on the left side
• Pale skin
• Weight loss for no known reason.

CML has three phases:

• Chronic phase CML: Symptoms are mild and white cells can still fight infection. After treatment, you can return to your usual activities.
• Accelerated phase CML: Anemia may develop, the number of white cells may increase or decrease, or the number of platelets may decrease. The number of blast cells may increase, and the spleen may swell. You may feel ill.
• Blast crisis phase CML: The bone marrow and blood contain an increased number of blast cells. Red cell and platelet count decrease. You may have infections, bleeding, shortness of breath and stomach or bone pain. CML is more difficult to treat in this phase.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Treatment

According to the Leukemia