Recently viewed pages
A A A

You are here: Cancer information / Cancer type / Leukemia - Chronic myelogenous (CML) / Overview

Glossary

What is chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)?

Leukemia is a cancer that starts in blood stem cells (immature blood cells) in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft, spongy material that fills the centre of most bones. Blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Blood stem cells develop into either myeloid stem cells or lymphoid stem cells.

 

Myeloid stem cells develop into one of 3 types of mature blood cells:

  • Red blood cells carry oxygen to all tissues of the body.
  • Platelets form clots in damaged blood vessels to prevent bleeding.
  • There are many different types of white blood cells. Myeloid stem cells can develop into granulocytes and monocytes, which destroy bacteria and help to fight infection.

 

Myelogenous leukemia develops when the blood stem cells in the bone marrow make too many abnormal granulocytes. These abnormal cells are called leukemia cells. The leukemia cells crowd out normal blood cells. This makes it hard for the white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets to do their jobs.

 

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a type of leukemia that develops slowly, over months or years.

 

Need more information?

We’re here to help. Tell us what you’re looking for, and an information specialist will email or call you.

500

Name:

Email address:

Phone number:

Postal code:

If you are outside Canada

We can give information about cancer care and support services in Canada only. To find a cancer organization in your country, visit Union for International Cancer Control or International Cancer Information Service Group.