Symptoms of chronic myeloid leukaemia

Chronic myeloid leukaemia develops (progresses) slowly over many years and initially there may not be any symptoms. Sometimes it is discovered when a blood test is done for another reason.

In the early stages of CML (the chronic phase), symptoms are often vague and non-specific. Symptoms in the chronic phase usually develop gradually, and include:

• tiredness (fatigue)
• loss of appetite
• weight loss
• increased sweating
• abnormal bruising and bleeding
• a feeling of fullness or a tender lump on the left side of the abdomen, due to an enlarged spleen.  The spleen is an organ which lies just below the ribs on the left side of the abdomen. It filters the blood and removes worn-out red blood cells.
• Swelling of the spleen may also cause pressure on the stomach, which can lead to indigestion and poor appetite.

As CML develops it is more likely to cause symptoms. In the accelerated phase there may be no more symptoms than in the chronic phase, however, the number of healthy blood cells in the blood may be lower. This may not cause any noticeable symptoms. Some people may develop high temperatures (fever) and night sweats.

In the more advanced stages of CML (blast phase) the symptoms are likely to be more pronounced. The symptoms are caused by the increased number of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and the low number of normal blood cells. Symptoms include:

• having various infections one after another, caused by a lack of healthy white blood cells
• looking pale, due to a lack of red blood cells (anaemia)
• unusual bleeding, caused by a low number of platelets in the blood. This may include bruising (bruises appear without apparent injury), heavy periods in women, bleeding gums, and frequent nose bleeds. Some people may notice a particular type of bruising that consists of small blood-like spots, usually seen on the legs or in the mouth. This is called petechiae.
• swollen lymph nodes
• small nodules in the skin, caused by the spread of leukaemia cells
• generalised itching.

If you have any of the above symptoms, it is important to see your doctor, but remember, they are common to many illnesses other than chronic myeloid leukaemia.