Read article CML and types of chronic leukaemia
This page explains the difference between chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and other types of leukaemia. There is information about
Differences between CML and other types of leukaemia
Leukaemias can be chronic or acute. Chronic leukaemias develop slowly and tend to get worse slowly. In chronic leukaemia the leukaemia cells are almost fully developed, but are not completely normal. They still work, but not as well as they should. Acute leukaemias tend to develop quickly and get worse rapidly if they are not treated.
The two most common types of chronic leukaemia are chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). If you are looking for information on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, look in the CancerHelp UK section on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
In CML, the abnormal cells develop from the myeloid blood stem cells. So the cancerous white blood cells are myelocytes. These cells are sometimes called granulocytes. So you may hear this type of leukaemia called chronic granulocytic leukaemia or CGL. (Myeloid is pronounced my-el-oyd and granulocytic is pronounced gran-you-low-sit-ik.)
Hairy cell leukaemia is another type of chronic leukaemia that is rarer than CML or CLL.
You can view and print the quick guides for all the pages in the about CML section.
Doctors put leukaemias into 2 main groups, acute and chronic. This describes how quickly the leukaemia is likely to develop and get worse. Chronic leukaemias develop slowly and tend to get worse slowly, over a long time. Acute leukaemias tend to develop quickly and get rapidly worse if they are not treated.
In chronic leukaemia the leukaemia cells are almost fully developed, but are not completely normal. They still work, but not as well as they should do. Your body makes too many abnormal white blood cells. But they aren't made as quickly as in acute leukaemia.
This section of CancerHelp UK is about chronic myeloid leukaemia. There are other sections on acute myeloid leukaemia, acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, chronic lymphoblastic leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia.
The two commonest types of chronic leukaemia are
- Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)
The difference between them is the type of white blood cell that has become cancerous. In CLL the abnormal cells develop from the lymphoid blood stem cells. The cancerous white blood cells are B lymphocytes, also called B cells. Lymphocytic in CLL is pronounced lim-fo-sit-ik.
In CML, the abnormal cells develop from the myeloid blood stem cells. So the cancerous white blood cells are myelocytes. These cells are sometimes called granulocytes. So you may hear this type of leukaemia called chronic granulocytic leukaemia or CGL. Myeloid is pronounced my-el-oyd and granulocytic is pronounced gran-you-low-sit-ik.
If you are looking for information on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, this is not the right section of CancerHelp UK for you. You need to use this link to go to the section on chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).
There is a third type of chronic leukaemia called hairy cell leukaemia. It is rarer than CLL or CML. The leukaemia cells have bits that stick out of the cell surface and look like hairs. These can be seen under a microscope and give this type of leukaemia its name.
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