Treatment for CML

All people with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) will be offered treatment to control the disease regardless of the phase at diagnosis. The type of treatment will depend on how far the leukaemia has progressed and your health. Some treatments are offered through clinical trials.

Learn more about:

• The main aim of treatment
• Making treatment decisions
• Targeted therapy
• Chemotherapy
• Other treatments
• Palliative treatment

The main aim of treatment

The main aim of treatment is to achieve long-term control of the CML so the signs of the disease reduce or disappear. This is known as remission. Another goal is to stop the CML from progressing to a more advanced phase.

The initial treatment of the leukaemia is known as first-line treatment. In most cases, you’ll need to continue this treatment for life. Your specialist will check your blood regularly to confirm that the leukaemia is still responding to treatment.

If the treatment stops working, you will be offered second-line treatment. Sometimes if you respond very well to treatment, the specialist may say you can stop treatment. If CML starts to come back, you will begin treatment again.

Podcast: Making Treatment Decisions

Listen to more episodes from our podcast for people affected by cancer