What do I need to know about CML treatment side effects?

Your
doctor’s questions

What do I need to understand about CML treatment side impacts?

Your CML treatment plan may include:

• Medicines such as those used in targeted therapy or chemotherapy

• stem cell transplantation

• Biological or immunotherapy

• Operation

There is a danger of side effects or complications in each of these procedures. Keep in mi
nd that if your doctor recommends a therapy, the potential benefit of the treatment to outweigh th
e risks has been assessed. If your side effects are uncommon, unmanageable, or because you
concern, you should always inform your doctor. You can treat many side effects with
medication, other therapies, or by making adjustments to your therapy plan. Your doctor can
offer you more data about when you should seek medical attention to handle a side effect at
home.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy

TKIs are a form of targeted therapy, which means they are used to kill cancer cells without
causing healthy cells to be damaged. For instance, TKI-specific medicines include:

 imatinib mesylate (Gleevec)

  dasatinib (Sprycel)

 nilotinib (Tasigna)

 bosutinib (Bosulif)

 ponatinib (Iclusig)

Bosutinib and ponatinib are used for most individuals only after testing other TKI therapies.
TKI's common side impacts include:

 nausea

 vomiting

 dry or itchy skin

 fatigue

 muscle pain

 joint pain

Every TKI drug can have its own potential side effects. Your experience depends on what
medicine you are taking and how you react to it. TKI treatment may have severe side effects in
some instances, such as anemia, diseases, or bleeding. These are uncommon. Other less prevalent
side effects include cardiac issues, liver issues, lung issues, or heart and lung fluid retention.
Your healthcare team will monitor you for indications of further severe side effects. If you notice
a sudden shift that you believe your medication might have a side effect, let your doctor know.

Biologic therapy

Also called immunotherapy is this form of therapy. For instance, in order to handle CML,
some individuals receive treatment like interferon alfa. Increasing low blood counts may be
prescribed. Possible interferon alfa side impacts include:

 red and itchy skin

  symptoms of the flu

 nausea

 vomiting

 lack of appetite

 fatigue

 sore mouth

 diarrhea

 hair loss

 jaundice

Interferon alfa may also trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals, but this is uncommon.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy operates by stopping certain cell kinds, including cancer cells, from
expanding. The treatment can either destroy or prevent the division of cells. Many chemotherapy
drugs exist, and these are sometimes combined with other therapies. Cytarabine and interferon
alfa are the most prevalent mixture of medicines individuals receive in CML therapy.

A typical CML chemotherapy course's side impacts include:

 sore throat

 fatigue

 hair loss

 diarrhea

 constipation
  loss of appetite

 nausea

 vomiting

 problems with fertility

Your doctor can provide you with more data about the prospective side effects of your particular
chemotherapy medication.

Stem cell transplant

A transplant of stem cells restores healthy body cells. Various types of transplants are
used for CML. Individuals receiving an allogeneic stem cell transplant receive donor cells. A
condition called graft versus host disease (GVHD) is at danger for these individuals. GVHD
occurs when the immune cells of the donor attack healthy cells of the body. Because of this
danger, individuals are given medication a day or two before the transplant to suppress the
immune system. It is still feasible for a individual to experience GVHD even after taking the
preventive drugs, but it is less probable.

Splenectomy

Some people with CML may have removed their spleen. The objective of this procedure
is to increase the number of blood cells or prevent discomfort if the organ is too large due to
CML.

With any surgery, complications are possible. Complications from this procedure can include:

 infection

 nausea

 vomiting
  pain

 reduced immune function

Your healthcare team will take measures to minimize your risk of surgery-related complications.
Most individuals recover in four to six weeks from surgery.

All treatment options come with possible side effects, but that doesn't mean you're going to
experience them. Different individuals have distinct medication reactions. You can handle any
side impacts you encounter by partnering with your physician.