Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

What is Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia?

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a slow progressing type of bone marrow disease that very much shares in characteristics of myelodysplastic syndromes (diseases where the bone marrow does not function normally and make enough blood cells) and myeloproliferative disorders (where too many of one type of blood cell is made in the bone marrow.) Basically, it is when the bone marrow makes too much of one kind of white blood cell (known as myelomonocytes), crowding out the rest of the white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets which the body needs.

Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia Statistics

Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia is a very rare type of cancer that accounts for less than 5000 of the 44 240 reported cases of Leukemia in 2007 according to the Lymphoma Society. Because it tends to fall under the “others” category and is a rare disease, exact statistics are not conclusive or easy to acquire.

Causes of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

It is difficult to always find the exact causes of any type of leukemia, but what has been found from research is that the causes are due to a combination of genetic factors or allergic or immune system deficiencies, exposure to chemicals, radiation and various viruses.

Symptoms of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Most of the symptoms for Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia can only be spotted by a professional doctor and there are 24 symptoms in total that are related to the disease. Of these 24, here are some of the more easily seen symptoms:

  • Lack of energy or strength (weakness and severe fatigue)
  • An unusual paleness
  • Fevers
  • Unusual dizziness
  • Easy bruising
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Palpitations
  • Respiratory problems
  • Bone pain
  • Urination pain
  • Severe weight loss

Doctors will generally find a high white blood cell count and reduced red blood cell count in the body, amongst other factors.

Treatment of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia

Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia is treated much like other types of Leukemia and the kind of treatment will depend on the stage of the cancer. There are four basic treatments available – Chemotherapy, Bone Marrow or Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation, Biologic Therapy and Alternative methods. Let’s take a quick look at these types of treatments:

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of the cancer cells, either by stopping them from dividing or killing them. It is usually either taken in through the mouth, or injected into the spinal column or body cavity affected by the cancer. In the case of CMML, the drugs would be injected into the bone marrow that is affected.

Bone Marrow or Peripheral Stem Cell Transplantation

This occurs when high volumes of Chemotherapy have been given to the patient and the blood-forming cells that were destroyed by the treatment are replaced. Healthy Bone marrow or stem cells (immature blood cells that help in the creation of further blood cells) are removed from the patient before Chemotherapy treatment, frozen and stored. After chemotherapy has been administered and done its job, the stored stem cells are infused back into the patient and they grow and restore the patient’s body and blood cells

Biologic Therapy

Biologic therapy (also called BioTherapy or Immunotherapy) uses the body’s immune system to fight off the cancer. Immune system substances that the body usually makes are made and stored in a laboratory and used to direct, boost or restore the patient’s body natural defenses.

Alternative Methods

There are many alternative methods to aid in the cure of different types of cancer and these should not be overlooked. Although clinical studies of the various methods are inconclusive, the fact remains that much of alternative medicine helps to aid the administration of the mainstream methods of medicine. As an example, Acupuncture has been shown to greatly aid relief to patients under Chemotherapy. Nutrition has been shown many times to help aid stem cell improvement and general health. Alternative medicine and mainstream medicine have shown to be formidable partners in the fight against cancer.

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