If you have chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and are being treated with targeted drugs, your doctor will check your blood counts, examine you, and do other tests, for example a bone marrow biopsy and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test (of blood and/or bone marrow). These check ups should happen at a minimum interval of every 3 months for at least the first year of treatment. They are done to see how well the CML is responding to your treatment.1
Here’s are some quick explanations of how treatment response is measured:
You may hear the terms ‘long-term deep molecular response’ or ‘durable complete molecular response’. These both mean a long-lasting complete molecular response, which is the goal of CML treatment.2
If you are taking your medicine correctly and the CML is not responding, you may be switched to another drug.1 Any change to your treatment will be fully explained to you by your doctor and discussed with you before a decision is made.
If you would like more details on the different responses, please also read Understanding your results.