blood disorders
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Symptoms of CML
Early on, in its chronic stage, CML may cause no symptoms. However, some people become fatigued and weak, lose their appetite, lose weight, develop night sweats, and notice a sensation of being full—which is usually caused by an enlarged spleen. Other symptoms include joint pains, ringing in the ears, stupor, and itching. As the disease progresses to the blast phase, people become sicker because of the inability of the bone marrow to produce enough normal blood cells. Massive enlargement of the spleen is common in the blast phase, as well as fever and weight loss. Fever and excessive sweating may indicate infection, which may result from too few normal white blood cells. Weakness, fatigue, and paleness, which may result from too few red blood cells ( Overview of Anemia ). Some people may have trouble breathing, a rapid heart rate, or chest pain. Easy bruising and bleeding, sometimes in the form of nosebleeds or bleeding gums, which may result from too few platelets ( Overview of Thrombocytopenia ). In some cases, people may bleed into their brain or abdomen. Fever, enlarged lymph nodes, an increase in immature white blood cells, and certain skin rashes are usually signs of advanced disease. 