What are the different phases of CML?
Chronic myelogenous leukemia has three distinct phases: • Chronic phase CML: This is the first phase of the disease and indicates that fewer than 10 percent of the cells in the blood and bone marrow are blast cells (the diseased, immature white blood cells). More than 80 percent of people who are diagnosed with CML are diagnosed during the chronic phase. When treatment with medications is started in this phase, chance for remission is very high. Chronic phase typically lasts for five to six years before the disease progresses to accelerated phase. • Accelerated phase CML: This is the second phase of the disease and indicates that 10 to 19 percent of the cells in the blood and bone marrow are blast cells. Symptoms have usually developed by this phase and may include anemia as well as general fatigue, malaise and other flu-like symptoms. The goal in treating accelerated CML is to kill all cells that contain the BCR-ABL gene or to return a person’s blood count to that of the chronic phase
