What is chronic myelogenous leukemia (cml)?

White cell cancer: The bone marrow cells that produce granulocytes (needed to fight infections) grow out of control and are present in large numbers in the blood and other organs. The disease is quite treatable these days because of targeted therapy and long lasting remissions are possible in most people.

Chronic leukemia: CML is a type of chronic leukemia that is associated with a specific genetic change called the philadelphia chromosome. This genetic change in the cancer cells is targeted by a type of oral chemotherapy drug called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. CML usually responds very well to these drugs although it is not cured with the pills. A stem cell transplant can be used in resistant cases.