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About CML
What is CML?
CML stands for chronic myeloid leukemia
CML is a type of cancer that affects the blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. In CML, these blood-forming cells make too many white blood cells, called granulocytes.
These immature white blood cells (sometimes called blast cells or leukemic blasts) crowd out other types of healthy blood cells. This is a problem because it can lead to your body not having enough of the healthy blood cells that perform important functions in the body.
Here’s what happens to normal blood cells in people with CML.
Over time, excess leukemic cells crowd out healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This can cause problems with your health, such as anemia which is when the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. This can also cause bruising easily, bleeding that takes longer to stop, and a higher chance of infections.
One of the ways to know how many leukemic cells are in the body is through a special test called a standardized polymerase chain reaction test, also known as a PCR test.
Weakness
Fatigue (extreme tiredness)
Night sweats
Weight loss
Fever
Bone pain
An enlarged spleen (felt as a mass under the left side of the ribcage)
Pain or a sense of "fullness" in the belly
Feeling full after eating even a small amount of food
See changes over time
Talk with your doctor about your experience
Better understand your physical health
Even minor CML symptoms and side effects can get in the way of living everyday life. Be sure to track any symptoms you have, so you can discuss them with your doctor at your next visit. Tracking symptoms and side effects, is a good way to better understand your physical health.
