On 22 September each year, patient organizations across the World engage on World CML Day to create awareness about Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Chronic Myeloid Leukemia affects patients in all age groups worldwide but it is predominantly a disease of adults, accounting for 15% of adult leukemias.According to the World Health Organization, the incidence rate of CML in 2016 is approximately 1.6 per 100,000 population.
World CML Day is recognized on September 22 because 9/22 represents the genetic change of Chromosomes 9 and 22 that is the cause of CML. Patients with CML may experience some typical symptoms such as fatigue, loss of apetite and body weight, night sweats and stomach bloating that last on average about 2 to 3 months.
According to the president of the Working Group for CML Ass. Prof. Samira Hasić, diagnosis of the disease is confirmed after the clinical examination, cytogenetic and molecular evaluation and analyzes of a patient and confirmation of 9/22 chromosome.
“The clinical introduction of a new classes of tyrosine kinase inhibitors made the “revolution” in the treatment of clonal hematological diseases. Thanks to the efforts made by all hematologists in the Federation of B&H, today we are able to provide the effective and targeted therapy for our patients.” said Ass. Prof. Hasić, and added that there is still no adequate therapy for certain hematological diseases.
She also said that additional diagnostic methods such as molecular monitoring improved our ability to predict the presence of minimal residual disease.
The Association of citizens suffering from hematological diseases of the Tuzla Canton “Smile” will also join in the celebration of World CML Day by organizing a series of educative lecturing.