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Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) can often be treated effectively, although it’s hard to cure. Most people will need to stay on treatment with a targeted therapy drug for many years or even decades.

For a small number of people with CML, treatment might get rid of the leukemia completely. But even then, it can be hard not to worry about the leukemia coming back.

Learning to live with cancer that doesn’t go away can be difficult and stressful. But no matter your situation, there are steps you can take to live well, both physically and emotionally.

Follow-up care

During (and possibly after) treatment for CML, your cancer care team will watch you closely. It's very important to go to all your follow-up appointments.

During these visits, your cancer care team will ask you about any problems you are having. They might also do exams and order lab tests to see how well treatment is working and to look for treatment side effects.

Talking about your side effects

Almost any cancer treatment can have side effects. Some side effects may last for a few weeks or months, but others might last the rest of your life. This is the time for you to talk to your cancer care team about any changes or problems you notice and any questions or concerns you have.

To learn more, see Managing Cancer-related Side Effects.

Asking your doctor for a survivorship care plan

Talk with your doctor about creating a survivorship care plan. This plan might include:

• A suggested schedule for follow-up exams and tests
• A schedule for other tests you might need in the future, such as early detection (screening) tests for other types of cancer or tests to look for long-term health effects from your cancer or treatment
• A list of possible side effects from your treatment, including what to watch for and when to contact your cancer care team
• Diet and physical activity suggestions
• Reminders to keep your appointments with your primary care provider, who will monitor your general health care

Keeping health insurance and copies of your medical records

It’s very important to keep health insurance. Tests and doctor visits cost a lot, and you might need lifelong CML treatment.

At some point, you might find yourself seeing a new doctor who doesn’t know your medical history. It’s important to keep copies of your medical records (or have access to them) so you can give your new doctor the details of your diagnosis and treatment.

Learn more in Keeping Copies of Important Medical Records.

Can I lower my risk of chronic myeloid leukemia progressing or coming back?

If you have CML, you probably want to know if there are things you can do that might lower your risk of the leukemia growing or progressing, such as exercising, eating a certain type of diet, or taking nutritional supplements.

Adopting healthy behaviors like not smoking, eating well, getting regular physical activity, and staying at a healthy weight might help, but no one knows for sure. Still, we do know that these types of changes can have positive effects on your health.

You can learn more about this in Cancer Risk and Prevention.

Taking CML medicines as prescribed

We also know that not taking CML medicines daily as prescribed can have negative effects. Studies have shown that missing doses or not taking the right dose can lead to worse overall outcomes.

It’s important to be honest with your health care team if you're having problems with your medicine for any reason, including problems paying for it.

About dietary supplements

So far, no dietary supplements (including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) have been shown to clearly help lower the risk of CML progressing. This doesn’t mean that no supplements will help. But it’s important to know that none have been proven to do so.

In the United States, dietary supplements are not regulated like medicines. They don’t have to be proven effective (or even safe) before being sold, although there are limits on what they’re allowed to claim they can do.

If you’re thinking about taking any type of nutritional supplement, talk to your health care team first. They can help you decide which ones you can use safely while avoiding those that might be harmful.

This is especially important for people with CML, because many drugs and supplements can interact with the main medicines used to treat CML.

If the leukemia progresses or comes back

If your CML does progress or relapse (come back) at some point, your treatment options will depend on what treatments you’ve had before, your overall health and preferences, and other factors.

Could I get a second cancer during or after treatment for CML?

If you have CML, you can still get other cancers. In fact, people with CML are at higher risk for getting some other types of cancer. This is called a second cancer.

People with CML can get any type of second cancer, but they have a higher risk of:

• Oral cavity (mouth) cancer
• Lung cancer
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
• Small intestine cancer
• Thyroid cancer
• Melanoma
• Prostate cancer

The risk appears to be higher in the first 5 years after being diagnosed with CML, but more research is needed to confirm this.

What you can do

If you have CML, it’s important to see your doctor regularly, and to let your doctor know if you have any new symptoms or problems. These may be from the CML or from some other cancer or disease.

Also, be sure to get routine cancer screening tests and well check-ups. These can help find problems early, when they're usually easier to treat.

It’s also important to avoid tobacco smoke, as smoking increases the risk of many cancers and might further increase the risk of some of the second cancers seen more often in people with CML.

To help maintain good health, it’s also important to:

• Get to and stay at a healthy weight.
• Keep active and limit the time you spend sitting or lying down.
• Follow a healthy eating pattern that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limits or avoids red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and highly processed foods.
• It's best not to drink alcohol. If you do drink, have no more than 1 drink per day for women or 2 per day for men.

These steps may lower the risk of some cancers, as well as some other common health problems.

See Second Cancers for more information.

Getting emotional support

Some amount of feeling depressed, anxious, or worried is normal when cancer is a part of your life. Some people are affected more than others. But everyone can benefit from help and support from other people, whether friends and family, religious groups, support groups, professional counselors, or others.

Learn more in Living with Cancer as a Chronic Illness.