What is the life expectancy for people with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)?
Life expectancy for people with CML has improved dramatically thanks to newer treatments. In the past, only about 20 percent of people lived 10 years after diagnosis. Now, researchers estimate that people with CML can have lifespans almost as long Show Full Answer
What is the life expectancy for people with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)?
Life expectancy for people with CML has improved dramatically thanks to newer treatments. In the past, only about 20 percent of people lived 10 years after diagnosis. Now, researchers estimate that people with CML can have lifespans almost as long as people without the blood cancer.
About 70 percent of people diagnosed with CML will live for five years or more. Most people who started using targeted therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) 20 years ago are still alive today.
However, it's important to know that most people will need to continue taking TKI therapy long-term to prevent the leukemia from returning. Several factors can influence your individual outlook:
- CML phase: People with chronic phase CML have better outcomes than those with accelerated or blast phase
- Age: Younger people (under 60) tend to have better survival rates
- Blood cell counts: Lower blast cell levels and healthier blood cell counts are positive signs
- Overall health: Being able to tolerate more aggressive treatments can improve outcomes
- Spleen size: Not having an enlarged spleen is a favorable factor
Your healthcare team can help you understand how these factors apply to your specific situation and what your personal outlook might be.
February 2
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