Understanding chronic myeloid leukemia
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a type of cancer that develops in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow, in which immature cells build up and eventually invade the blood.1
CML is a rare cancer. There are approximately two cases per 100,000 people diagnosed each year, accounting for about 15% of newly diagnosed leukemia cases in adults.2
CML typically develops in three phases:
- Chronic phase (the earliest phase)
- Accelerated-phase
- Blast-phase
In most patients, CML is diagnosed in the early, chronic phase. With the right treatment, many patients can remain in chronic phase without progressing to a more advanced phase.3
When a diagnosis comes unexpectedly
When Victoria was diagnosed with CML, it came without warning.
She had recently moved for work, was juggling two jobs and living an active life. She didn’t feel unwell. A routine check-up was meant to be just that. Instead, it marked the start of her CML diagnosis and raised immediate questions about what life might look like going forward.
For many people, CML is diagnosed while life is still moving at full pace. Dr. Tim Hughes, Consultant Hematologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, notes it’s common for patients to be “just going on with their lives” when the diagnosis comes unexpectedly. Hearing the word leukemia can be daunting, yet it’s a condition that can be managed and, for many people, daily life can continue as normal with the right support.
The role of shared decision-making
Early discussions between Victoria and her care team helped bring clarity during a time of uncertainty.
Shared decision-making, where patients and healthcare professionals work together to make informed treatment choices, can play an important role in helping people navigate a diagnosis like CML.
For Victoria, these early and collaborative discussions meant treatment decisions could be shaped around what mattered most to her beyond her diagnosis.
Her priorities were clear:
- Continuing her career
- Supporting her family
- Staying active
By creating space for questions and reassurance, her care team helped her make shared decisions that supported the life she wanted to keep living.
Living well with CML
As the number of people living with CML continues to rise globally2, supporting long-term quality of life is becoming an increasingly important focus of care.
For many patients, this includes balancing treatment with work, family life and personal wellbeing. Open communication between patients and their healthcare teams can help ensure treatment decisions align with individual priorities and lifestyle.
At Novartis, this means listening closely to patient experiences and driving scientific progress recognizing that quality of life remains central to living well with the condition.
