Treatment for chronic myeloid leukaemia

Main treatments for chronic myeloid leukaemia

Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) usually develops very slowly. You may not need treatment straight away.

Treatment will depend on:

• the phase (or stage) of your CML
• your age
• your general health

It will usually include targeted cancer medicines. You may also be offered chemotherapy or a stem cell transplant.

Treatments to prevent and manage symptoms (called supportive treatments) will also be offered.

The specialist care team looking after you will:

• explain the treatments, benefits and side effects
• work with you to create a treatment plan
• help manage any side effects

You'll have regular check-ups during and after any treatments. You may also have tests and scans.

If you have any symptoms or side effects that you're worried about, talk to your specialists. You do not need to wait for your next check-up.

Targeted medicines

Targeted medicines aim to stop cancer growing.

The main treatment for CML is targeted medicines called tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

There are many different TKIs. If you're having side effects from a particular TKI, or tests show that it is not working, your specialist may try you on a different one.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses medicines to kill cancer cells.

Some people with CML need to have chemotherapy.

You may need to have chemotherapy:

• to control your symptoms
• before having a stem cell transplant
• if your CML is in the acute (blast) phase

Stem cell transplant

A stem cell transplant replaces damaged blood cells with healthy ones.

You may need to have a stem cell transplant to treat CML if:

• targeted cancer drugs are no longer working to control your cancer
• your cancer is in the acute (blast) phase or accelerated phase

Supportive treatments

You may need treatment to help with symptoms caused by CML or by the cancer medicines and chemotherapy.

Supportive treatments may include:

• medicines such as antibiotics to treat infections
• blood transfusions
• vaccines to help protect you from illnesses such as flu and COVID-19