Chronic Myelogenous LeukemiaChronic Myelogenous Leukemia, let's break it down to make it easier to understand. Ralph Waldo Emerson Chronic: In this case refers to the first stage of the disease. The cancer can then progress to an accelerated and then a blast crisis phase. Myelogenous: Referring to the cancer's origin within the bone marrow or spinal cord. Leukemia: Indicates an over production of blood cells creating a cancerous state. CML is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. The body produces an over abundance of white blood cells which do not fully mature. These immature white blood cells are unable to perform their natural function and begin to crowd out the healthy cells. CML is discovered in approximately 1 or 2 people for every 100,000. This translates into about 460 new cases being diagnosed in Canada every year. Most people diagnosed with CML are past middle age and men are slightly more likely to be diagnosed than women. Fortunately we are now living in a time where CML is not such a big mystery. Treatment and prognosis has dramatically improved over the last ten to twenty years. Additionally we now have the internet to help educate and inform ourselves thus (hopefully) reducing fear and anxiety.
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