Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia -Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

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About 4,830 people in the United States will learn they
have chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in 2008.
About 21,749 people in the United States are living with
CML (SEER, National Cancer Institute, 2008). The progress
that has been made in treating CML gives patients more hope
than ever before.

Leukemia is a type of cancer. There are four main types of leukemia.
CML is one of the four types. CML starts with a change to
a single stem cell. Both children and adults can get CML,
but most CML patients are adults.

CML patients have what is called the "Philadelphia Chromosome" (Ph chromosome). Every cell with a nucleus has chromosomes. The Ph chromosome is made as the result of a piece of chromosome 22 breaking off. With CML, there is a switch in pieces of chromosome 9 and 22. The break on chromosome 9 involves a gene called "ABL." The break on chromosome 22 involves a gene called "BCR."

A piece of chromosome 9 attaches to the end of chromosome 22 and the BCR-ABL cancer gene is made. The BCR-ABL cancer gene gives the cell instructions to make a protein that leads to CML.

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White Plains, NY 10605

or call the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572.