How Long Will I Live with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?

The life expectancy of a patient diagnosed with CML varies greatly and depends on a multitude of factors including:

• The patient's age
• The patient's overall health
• The phase a patient's CML is in
• The patient's response to treatment

What do statistics say about the life expectancy for someone with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?

A 5-year survival rate is a statistic used in cancer research to describe the percentage of individuals diagnosed with a disease who are still alive 5 years after their diagnosis. It is a commonly used measure to assess the prognosis or outcome of a specific disease, and it provides valuable information about the likelihood of survival over a defined period of time. The higher the survival rate, the more favorable the outcome. 

According to the American Cancer Society, the 5-year survival rate for people with CML is now around 70% due to the advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This is a significant improvement from a few decades ago, before the use of TKIs. However, it's important to note that these are average figures and individual prognosis can vary greatly. Some people may live much longer than the average, while others may have a shorter survival time.

What Factors Affect Prognosis for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?

• Age: Older patients may have a poorer prognosis than younger ones.
• Overall health: Patients with other health conditions may have a poorer prognosis.
• Response to treatment: Patients who respond well to treatment typically have a better prognosis.
• Phase of disease: Patients diagnosed in the chronic phase of CML usually have a better prognosis than those diagnosed in the accelerated or blast phase.
• Molecular response: Patients who achieve a deep molecular response to TKIs usually have a better prognosis.

It's important to note that survival statistics are general trends and a patient's individual prognosis can vary greatly. Each patient's case is unique and should be discussed with their healthcare provider. Having a CML specialist on your team provides you with the best way of truly understanding your prognosis. Visit HealthTree's CML Specialist Directory to find a CML expert near you. You can also join HealthTree's social media platform, HealthTree Connect to meet other CML patients and learn what they've done personally to live longer with CML. 

Want to Learn More About Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?

Keep reading HealthTree for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia's 101 pages!

• What Is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?
• How Is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Diagnosed?
• What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?
• How Is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Staged And Classified?
• What Are Treatments For Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?