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Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) Treatments
In recent years, CML treatments have changed. Instead of only one or two options, today there are multiple CML treatments available:
- Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are the most commonly used CML treatment. These oral medications block the BCR-ABL protein, and cause CML blood cells to die. Your doctor or nurse will be able to tell you more about these oral medications.
Learn more about treating CML
- Stem cell transplantation is the only treatment that provides a potential cure for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The patient receives high doses of chemotherapy to reduce the number of leukemia cells, followed by an infusion of blood-forming stem cells donated by another person who has a nearly identical tissue type (either a family member or an unrelated donor). Ask your doctor or nurse about the short-term and long-term side effects associated with stem cell transplantation. Stem cell transplantation is not an appropriate treatment for all patients; your doctor will determine if it is right for you
- Interferon, once the primary treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), is still used to reduce the growth of leukemia cells. Given by daily injection, interferon helps the body's immune system fight cancer.
- Experimental treatments under development for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) may be available to you by enrolling in a clinical trial. A clinical trial is a research study designed to improve current treatments, or to gather information on the safety and effectiveness of experimental CML treatments
- Other therapies, including chemotherapy, may be prescribed by your physician to help treat your CML