This is the most common chronic adult leukemia and is a cancer of WBCs.
In CML, as immature white blood cells multiply uncontrollably they crowd out all the other types of necessary blood cells.
Also, in CML, a genetic change takes place in immature myeloid cells which forms an abnormal gene called BCR-ABL. This genetic change turns the normal cell into a CML cell.
CML blast phase life expectancy
People diagnosed with CML usually remain in the chronic phase. But in some cases, where people do not receive effective treatment or do not respond well to the treatment, move to the accelerated or blastic phase.
However, life expectancy during these phases largely depend on the kind of treatment the patient has undergone and also treatments their bodies can tolerate.
Chronic myeloid leukemia life expectancy
Like most diseases, the outlook for those with CML is based on many factors. Some of these include:
- Cancer phase
- Age
- Overall health
- Platelet counts
- Whether the spleen is enlarged
- Amount of bone damage from leukemia
Chronic myeloid leukemia diagnosis
The following tests may be used to diagnose or monitor CML:
Blood tests: Most people are diagnosed with CML through a blood test called a complete blood count before they have any symptoms. A CBC counts the number of different kinds of cells in the blood as people with CML usually have high levels of white blood cells.
Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy: These procedures are almost similar and often done at the same time to examine the bone marrow.
A bone-marrow aspiration uses a needle to remove a sample of the fluid containing bone marrow cells, whereas a bone-marrow biopsy is the removal of a small amount of solid tissue using a needle.
Molecular testing: This test is recommended if your doctor wants to know about the leukemia cells for specific genes, proteins, and other factors unique to leukemia.
Cytogenetics is a type of genetic testing that is used to analyze a cell’s chromosomes. It looks at the number, size, shape, and arrangement of the chromosomes.
Cytogenetic testing for CML is also prescribed if your doctor wants to monitor how well the treatment is working and if it is reducing the number of cells with the Philadelphia chromosome.
Tests such as Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) are also sometimes used with the cytogenetic testing.
Imaging tests: Doctors may use imaging tests to find out if the leukemia is affecting other parts of the body.
CML accelerated phase symptoms
CML patients are considered to be in accelerated phase during the following circumstances:
- Blood samples have blasts that are 15% or more
- There are 20% or more Basophils in the blood
- Blasts and promyelocytes together make up 30% or more of the blood
- Low platelet count
- New chromosome changes with the Philadelphia chromosome in the leukemia cells
Common symptoms experienced by patients whose CML is in an accelerated phase include fever, poor appetite, and weight loss. CML in the accelerated phase doesn’t even respond well to the treatment as compared to CML in the chronic phase.
CML chronic phase survival rate
Most patients with CML remain in the chronic phase, but people who do not receive effective treatment or who fail to respond well to the treatment will move to the accelerated or blastic phase.
Outlook during these phases depends on a couple of factors, such as which treatments they have already tried and which treatments their bodies can tolerate, etc.
The survival rate is rather optimistic for those who are in the chronic phase.
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