Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (GML)
Although it can happen at any age, older adults between 60 and 65 are the most susceptible.
The spongy substance that makes up some bones, known as the bone marrow, makes an excessive number of myeloid cells in CML, which are immature white blood cells that do not function properly.
Symptoms
Early on, CML typically exhibits no symptoms and is only occasionally detected during tests ordered for another reason.
Symptoms that appear as the condition worsens include:
- Night sweats
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
- A high temperature
- Swelling in the left side of your abdomen
- Pale skin and shortness of breath
- Bruising and bleeding easily
- Feeling full after small meals
- Frequent infections
- Bone pain
Causes
A genetic alteration (mutation) in the bone marrow-produced stem cells leads to CML.
The mutation makes the stem cells produce excessive immature white blood cells. Additionally, it causes a decline in the number of other blood cells, like red blood cells.
Treatments
The typical practice for CML treatment should begin earlier than possible to slow the disease’s progression and maintain control.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are drugs that prevent the growth and division of cancer cells and are the primary treatments for CML. If taken continuously, they can assist in keeping CML under control.
These medicines include:
- Nilotinib capsules
- Dasatinib tablets
- Imatinib tablets
- Bosutinib tablets
A stem cell transplant can be an option on rare occasions. They can develop into different cell types. In this situation, bone marrow stem cells get transplanted, producing healthy white blood cells. Although it’s a very intensive procedure and isn’t appropriate in most cases, a stem cell transplant may be able to cure CML.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022