Patients & Caregivers
Novartis Oncology - Information on Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
What is it?
What is CML?
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a slow growing cancer in which the bone marrow - the soft, spongy tissue in the center of bones - makes too many white blood cells. This type of leukemia is also called chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelocytic leukemia, or chronic granulocytic leukemia.
Statistics
Chronic myeloid leukemia is an uncommon type of leukemia, making up about 15% of all cases of leukemia among adults. About 4,000 to 5,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed each year in the United States. People of any age can develop CML, but it is most common in adults 50 years of age and older.
Risk Factors
Children of parents with CML do not have a greater risk of developing the disease. There is a question as to whether radiation used for treatment raises the risk of CML. No infectious agents are linked to the development of this leukemia.
Screening
No standard screening process exists for detecting early stage leukemia. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during routine blood tests.
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