Q:
What is the diagnosis and treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia?
A:
Tests and procedures used to diagnose chronic myelogenous leukemia include:
- Physical exam.
- Blood tests.
- Bone marrow tests.
- Tests to look for the Philadelphia chromosome.
The goal of your treatment is to destroy the leukemia blood cells in your body and restore healthy ones to a normal level. It’s usually not possible to get rid of all the bad cells. Common treatments include:
- Targeted drugs known as tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). They are the initial treatment for most people diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia.
- Blood stem cell transplant. It offers the only chance for a definitive cure for chronic myelogenous leukemia. However, it’s usually reserved for people who haven’t been helped by other treatments because blood stem cell transplants have risks and carry a high rate of serious complications.
- Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs are typically combined with other treatments for chronic myelogenous leukemia.
- Biological therapy. Biological therapies harness your body’s immune system to help fight cancer. Side effects of interferon include fatigue, fever, flu-like symptoms and weight loss.
