Who is affected by chronic myelogenous leukemia

Learn about the risk factors for chronic myeloid leukemia and if there are things you might be able to do to help lower your risk. Know the signs and symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia.

Find out how CML is tested for, diagnosed, and staged. If you are facing chronic myeloid leukemia, we can help you learn about the treatment options and possible side effects, and point you to information and services to help you in your cancer journey. If you or someone you know has just been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, this short, simple guide can help. We depend on donations to keep our cancer information available for the people who need it most. Cancer A-Z. Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention Learn about the risk factors for chronic myeloid leukemia and if there are things you might be able to do to help lower your risk.

Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging Know the signs and symptoms of chronic myeloid leukemia. It's a type of cancer that starts in certain blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. In CML, a genetic change takes place in an early immature version of myeloid cells -- the cells that make red blood cells, platelets, and most types of white blood cells except lymphocytes.

The leukemia cells grow and divide, building up in the bone marrow and spilling over into the blood. In time, the cells can also settle in other parts of the body, including the spleen. CML is a fairly slow growing leukemia, but it can change into a fast-growing acute leukemia that's hard to treat. CML occurs mostly in adults, but very rarely it occurs in children, too. In general, their treatment is the same as for adults.

Leukemia is a cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. When one of these cells changes and becomes a leukemia cell, it no longer matures the way it should. Often, it divides to make new cells faster than normal.

Leukemia cells also don't die when they should. They build up in the bone marrow and crowd out normal cells. At some point, leukemia cells leave the bone marrow and spill into the bloodstream, often causing the number of white blood cells WBCs in the blood to increase. Once in the blood, leukemia cells can spread to other organs, where they can keep other cells in the body from working properly.

Leukemia is different from other types of cancer that start in organs like the lungs, colon, or breast and then spread to the bone marrow.

Cancers that start in another part of the body and then spread to the bone marrow are not leukemia. The Philadelphia chromosome is present in the blood cells of 90 percent of people with chronic myelogenous leukemia. The Philadelphia chromosome creates a new gene. The BCR-ABL gene contains instructions that tell the abnormal blood cell to produce too much of a protein called tyrosine kinase. Tyrosine kinase promotes cancer by allowing certain blood cells to grow out of control.

Your blood cells originate in the bone marrow, a spongy material inside your bones. When your bone marrow functions normally, it produces immature cells blood stem cells in a controlled way.

These cells then mature and specialize into the various types of blood cells that circulate in your body — red cells, white cells and platelets. In chronic myelogenous leukemia, this process doesn't work properly. Most or all of these cells contain the abnormal Philadelphia chromosome. The diseased white blood cells don't grow and die like normal cells.

The diseased white blood cells build up in huge numbers, crowding out healthy blood cells and damaging the bone marrow. The mutation that leads to chronic myelogenous leukemia isn't passed from parents to children. This mutation is believed to be acquired, meaning it develops after birth. Chronic myelogenous leukemia care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Chronic myelogenous leukemia CML is an uncommon type of cancer of the bone marrow — the spongy tissue inside bones where blood cells are made. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. How the Philadelphia chromosome forms Open pop-up dialog box Close. How the Philadelphia chromosome forms An abnormal chromosome called the Philadelphia chromosome is associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

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