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Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia: Facts to Know

CMML, short for chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, is a kind of leukemia, which is a group of cancers that disrupts the formation and activity of blood cells. There are majorly four types of leukemia, but there exist several other rare types. CMML is a rare type. Unlike the major types of leukemia [1] that mostly affects the leukocytes, or white blood cells, CMML affects the myeloid stem cells in the blood marrow.

In this article, we will discuss with you about the facts of CMML, including what it is, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment. Keep reading to find out these things.

What Is Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia?

CMML is a rare type of leukemia that affects stem cells in your bone marrow. This condition is a lot more severe, because it affects the production of different blood cells like:

  • Red Blood Cells (RBCs): These are cells in the body that are responsible for carrying oxygen and other nutrients to different organs and tissues all through the body.
  • White Blood Cells (WBCs): They comprise of the granulocytes and monocytes. These are cells that are responsible for defending the body against infections and diseases.
  • Platelets: These are cells that help stop bleeding by forming blood clots.

With these three cells not functioning properly, a lot of damage can be done to the body. When you have CMML, there is an increased number of monocytes in your blood, which can be called monocytosis. Not only do you have a higher number of monocytes, you might also have an increased number of immature white blood cells, called blasts.