Symptoms of chronic myeloid leukaemia

If there are symptoms in the early stages of CML, they come on gradually and are usually mild. Symptoms may include:

• tiredness
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• high temperatures (fever) and night sweats
• a feeling of fullness or a tenderness on the left side of the tummy area (abdomen) caused by an enlarged spleen. The spleen is an organ just below the ribs on the left side of the abdomen. It filters the blood to keep it clean and helps protect against infection.

If CML has been developing for some time, symptoms may be more noticeable and may include:

• frequent infections
• looking pale and feeling tired or breathless
• bleeding or bruising easily
• swellings in the neck, groin or armpit
• small bumps in the skin
• itching.

If you have any of the these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor, but remember, they are common to many illnesses other than CML.