Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the marrow and blood. The four major types of leukemia are

Acute myeloid leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Acute leukemia is a rapidly progressing disease that produces cells that are not fully
developed. These immature cells cannot perform their normal functions.
Chronic leukemia usually progresses slowly, and patients have greater numbers of
mature cells. In general, these more mature cells can carry out some of their normal
functions.
With acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the cancerous change begins in a marrow cell
that normally forms lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
With chronic myeloid leukemia, the cancerous change takes place in a marrow cell
that normally forms red blood cells, some types of white blood cells and platelets.
The four main types of leukemia are further classified into subtypes. Knowing the
subtype of your disease is important because your treatment plan is based, in part,
on the subtype.

What is CML?
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is called by several other names, including

Chronic myelogenous leukemia

Chronic granulocytic leukemia
Chronic myelocytic leukemia.

CML results from an acquired (not present at birth) or a genetic injury to the DNA of
a single bone marrow cell. The mutated cell multiplies into many cells (CML cells).
The result of the uncontrolled growth of CML cells in the marrow is an increase in
the number of CML cells in the blood. CML does not completely interfere with the
development of mature red cells, white cells and platelets. As a result, chronic
phase myeloid leukemia is generally less severe than acute leukemia, and often
patients do not have any symptoms when diagnosed.

Who is Affected by CML and Why?

Incidence. Most cases of CML occur in adults. From 2007 to 2011, the median age
at diagnosis for CML was 64 years. A small number of children develop CML; the
course of the disease is similar in children and adults.