Do I really have chronic myeloid leukemia?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 18 years old and I got told that I had chronic myeloid leukemia. Do I seriously have it? Or what do I really have? Blood test: high basophils and low hemoglobin. My symptoms are weight loss, anemia, dizziness and pale skin. Urine: leukocytes 1 to 2. And, I have a ball right under my left eyeball of the size of a pebble.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Well, CML (chronic myeloid leukemia) is a treatable blood cancer. The diagnosis of CML is suspected by a peripheral blood examination in which the number of basophils and eosinophils is highly raised and urine examination has no role in its diagnosis. So, on the basis of your report, it cannot be said that it is CML.

For the confirmation and definite diagnosis of CML, you need to get these two tests:

Bone marrow aspiration/biopsy.
Philadelphia chromosome.

Once you get the reports of these two tests, only then it can be confirmed that you have CML or not. Please do not hesitate to ask me if you have any more doubts. Take care.