Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is an uncommon type of cancer of the blood cells. The term “chronic” in chronic myelogenous leukemia indicates that this cancer tends to progress more slowly than acute forms of leukemia. The term “myelogenous” in chronic myelogenous leukemia refers to the type of cells affected by this cancer.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia can also be called chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia. Chronic myelogenous leukemia typically affects older adults and rarely occurs in children, though it can occur at any age.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia occurs when something goes awry in the genes of your blood cells. It’s not clear what initially sets off this process, but doctors have discovered how it progresses into chronic myelogenous leukemia.

First, an abnormal chromosome develops
Human cells normally contain 23 pairs of chromosomes. These chromosomes hold the DNA that contains the instructions (genes) that control the cells in your body. In people with chronic myelogenous leukemia, the chromosomes in the blood cells swap sections with each other. A section of chromosome 9 switches places with a section of chromosome 22, creating an extra-short chromosome 22 and an extra-long chromosome 9.

The extra-short chromosome 22 is called the Philadelphia chromosome, named for the city where it was discovered. The Philadelphia chromosome is present in the blood cells of 90 percent of people with chronic myelogenous leukemia.

Kareem Abdul-Jubbar CML Leukemia

About 4,800 people are diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Learn more about CML Leukemia here

• Definition

• Symptoms

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Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Diagnosed With Cancer

Us.com has reported that Former Los Angeles Lakers basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, he announced Tuesday.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is an uncommon type of cancer of the blood cells. The term “chronic” in chronic myelogenous leukemia indicates that this cancer tends to progress more slowly than acute forms of leukemia. The term “myelogenous” in chronic myelogenous leukemia refers to the type of cells affected by this cancer.

Chronic myelogenous leukemia can also be called chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic granulocytic leukemia. Chronic myelogenous leukemia typically affects older adults and rarely occurs in children, though it can occur at any age.

About 4,800 people are diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia each year, according to the National Cancer Institute. Read more here

Receiving the diagnosis last December, Abdul-Jabbar, 62, says he is currently undergoing treatment for the form of blood cancer, abbreviated CML, which involves checking his blood levels on a regular basis.

The Official Website of Kareem Abdul Jabbar

NBA.com: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Bio

Basketball great Abdul-Jabbar has cancer – CNN.com

While the 7-foot-2 NBA star will not disclose his prognosis, he confirms he is managing his disease, which “doesn’t impact my life too significantly.”  Read full story here

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