Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a rare form of cancer that affects the white blood cells. Two chromosomes break apart and then transmutate, causing hyperproduction of white cells and the inhibition of red-blood cell production. About 500 cases are diagnosed in Canada every year.
The normal white cell count for adults is between 4,000 and 10,000. For those with CML, the white cell count can rise to more than 100,000.
Treatment for the disease includes stem cell and bone marrow transplants. The most common treatment is a drug called imatinib, which is better known by its commercial name, Gleevec.
Gleevec, which a source says is the drug Jason Blake is taking, inhibits the overproduction of white cells and assists the production of red cells. Patients resistant to Gleevec usually take dasatinib, a recently approved drug known by its commercial name, Sprycel.
People with CML have bone pain and fatigue from the disease and also have to deal with some side effects from Gleevec. The side effects can include nausea, vomiting, weight gain, rashes and muscle cramps. A recent study showed a small number of people taking Gleevec are susceptible to heart failure, so all patients are monitored for potential heart problems. Sprycel, which has been approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration only for those resistant to Gleevec, is said to have fewer side effects.
Before Gleevec was approved by the FDA in 2003, the survival rate after five years for people with CML was 50 per cent. For those taking Gleevec, the survival rate after five years is 89 per cent.
Other NHL players who had cancer in recent years are Mario Lemieux and Saku Koivu (both with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) and Phil Kessel (testicular cancer). All three missed significant playing time, but all returned to play. Koivu and Kessel are still playing.
Actor Ryan O'Neal, 66, was diagnosed with the disease in 2001.
