CML

On August 9th, 2012, I was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML). Leukemia is a cancer of the marrow and blood. CML is a caused when one of the chromosomes in your body changes, or mutates. They call this changed chromosome the Philadelphia chromosome. This abnormal chromosome then creates a new gene, called BCR-ABL. This gene causes certain blood cells to grow out of control, and causes the diseased white blood cells to not grow or die like normal cells. They just build up and damage the bone marrow.

There are three stage of CML: Chronic, Accelerated, and Blast. The first being the best, the last being the worst. I am in the chronic phase.

There is no cure for CML. It's something I will always have. However, there is an amazing treament for CML called Gleevec. It is known as a 'miracle drug' because it's a targeted chemo therapy. Unlike regular chemotherapy, it only kills the 'bad cells' making treatment not as hard on your body. Prior to the development of Gleevec in 2001, someone with CML was only expected to live for 5 years after diagnosis. With Gleevec, I have the ability to live a 'normal' life.

Follow me on my journey from pre-diagnosis through how I'm living with CML today. 

To learn about how this journey began, click here.
To read about me being diagnosed, click here.
To read about my journey 1 month after being diagnosed, click here. 
To read about my journey 3 months after being diagnosed, click here.
To read about my journey 6 months after being diagnosed, click here.
To read about my journey 16 months after being diagnosed, click here.
To read about my journey 18 months after being diagnosed, click here. 
To read about my journey 2 years after being diagnosed, click here. 
To ready about my journey 2.5 years after being diagnosed, click here.

Follow me on my journey on trying to expand my family with living with CML. 

To learn about the process, click here. 

First Trimester

To read about my pregnancy announcement, click here. 
To read about living with HG during pregnancy, click here. 
To read about going through pregnancy with CML, click here. 

Second Trimester

To read about my second trimester, click here. 

Third Trimester

To read about my third trimester, click here. 

Post Pregnancy

To read about starting treatment again after having Taylor Grace, click here. 
To read about adjusting to dealing with the side effects of treatment and being a mom of two, click here.

To read about my journey 5 years after being diagnosed, click here. 

To read about my journey 9 years after being diagnosed, click here. 

To read about my journey 11 years after being diagnosed, click here.