This condition only shows symptoms in the later stages and symptoms vary depending on the stage of CML

Symptoms during chronic and accelerated stages include:

• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite
• Weight Loss
• Anemia
• Increased sweating
• Abnormal bruising
• Bone pain
• Headache and visual disturbances
• Night sweats
• Tenderness and swelling on the left side of your abdomen due to spleen enlargement
• Tenderness over the lower sternum

Symptoms at advanced stage (blastic phase) include:

• Repeated infections in a short span of time
• Unusually pale skin due to lack of red blood cells
• Bleeding such as nose Bleeding and Bleeding gums
• Easily bruised skin
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Itchy skin

Common tests & procedures

Blood test: To check for abnormalities in number and shape/size of different types of white blood cells.

CT scan: To check if the other organs are affected.

Bone marrow biopsy: Used to confirm diagnosis and is carried under a local anesthetic. A sample is taken from the hip bone to check for the presence of any cancerous cells.

Cytogenetic analysis: Methods such as FISH are used to look for chromosomal abnormalities and identify the Philadelphia chromosome.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): Genetic testing methods such as PCR are used to identify the abnormal fusion gene.