Cancer refers to a group of diseases that are characterized by abnormal cell growth and division across the body. Blood cancer is a term that encompasses a group of diseases that affects blood cells, bone marrow, lymphatic system, and lymphoid tissues. Blood cancer alters the normal functioning of blood cells, including the supply of oxygen throughout the body, which is responsible for fighting various infections and much more. There are various kinds of blood cancer classified based on the area being affected, which include leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma, respectively.

What is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia?

It is a kind of blood cancer revealed by the gradual slow development of cancerous cells in the bone marrow over a prolonged period. The symptoms can be the same as blood cancer, but it develops so gradually that it becomes less noticeable for individuals in the early stages; often, sometimes, it may be present even without symptoms. 

Patients affected with chronic myeloid leukemia tend to develop an abnormal chromosome in their blood called the Philadelphia chromosome. 

Chronic myeloid leukemia occurs in three phases, namely,

• Chronic phase: It is the initial stage of CML and probably the longest phase. Patients who are in this phase rarely experience a symptom. There is an increased number of granulocytes developing, but the function of bone marrow is not compromised.
• Accelerated phase: The progression of the disease leads into the accelerated phase. Patients start to notice symptoms such as enlarged spleen, and the function of bone marrow will be compromised. It is a sign that CML has progressed.
• Blast phase: It is the final advanced phase of CML, where so-called blast cells are rapidly developed and spread. The bone marrow function is entirely compromised, and symptoms like shortness of breath and bleeding intensify. 

What Is Ph-positive CML?

The name Ph+ CML or "Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia comes from a special chromosome called the Philadelphia chromosome, found in more than 95% of people with CML. Researchers in Philadelphia first discovered this chromosome, hence it is known as the philadelphia chromosome..

What Causes Ph+ CML?

Ph+ CML isn't something you are born with and is not passed down from your parents. Instead, it happens because of a change in your chromosomes. As cells in your body divide and make copies of themselves, sometimes mistakes happen. In Ph+ CML, pieces from two different chromosomes (chromosomes 9 and 22) swap places, creating the Philadelphia chromosome. This results in synthesizing an abnormal protein called BCR-ABL, which causes the bone marrow to produce too many immature white blood cells.

What Are The Symptoms Of Ph+ CML?

Many people with Ph+ CML don't have any symptoms at first. Sometimes, the only sign of the disease is a high white blood cell count found during a routine blood test. As the condition advances, symptoms may include fatigue, weakness, fever, night sweats, and an increased risk of infections.

Innovative Approaches To Blood Cancer Treatment

1. Immunotherapy: By using the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, immunotherapy has completely changed how cancer is treated. Therapies like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy have proved to be successful in treating blood malignancies like lymphoma and leukemia. The goal of CAR T-cell therapy is to genetically alter a patient's own T-cells so they can easily identify and fight against cancer cells effectively.
2. CAR-NK Cell therapy: Besides CAR T-cell therapy, researchers are investigating the use of NK cells created with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to treat blood malignancies. CAR-NK cell therapy has various potential advantages to CAR-T cell therapy, including a lower risk of cytokine release syndrome and graft-versus-host disease.
3. Targeted therapies: Targeted therapies attack particular compounds that are important in cancer cell growth and survival. Targeted therapy for blood malignancies frequently targets cancer cell-specific proteins or genetic abnormalities. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are the gold standard first-line treatment option for chronic myeloid leukemia. They act by targeting the abnormal fusion gene of BCR-ABL1 and inhibiting their activity, finally preventing the rapid growth of leukemia or so-called blast cells. Some commonly employed medications include Imatinib, dasatinib, bosutinib, and ponatinib. The newer second-generation TKIs include Tasigna, which contains an active ingredient, nilotinib. 
4. Stem Cell Transplantation: Stem cell transplantation, commonly known as bone marrow transplantation, is still a standard treatment for many blood malignancies. This method consists of replacing diseased or damaged bone marrow with healthy stem cells to restore the body's ability to create blood cells. Innovations in stem cell transplantation approach, such as reduced-intensity conditioning regimens and greater donor matching, have increased the treatment's eligibility and safety.
5. Combinational therapies: Combinations of several treatment methods, like chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, are increasingly being employed to improve treatment efficacy and overcome medicine resistance. Clinical trials of innovative combination regimens are now underway, with the goal of identifying the most successful and tolerable treatment options for individuals with blood cancer.
6. Precision medicine: It involves creating a personalized treatment based on every single patient's requirements. There are advancements constantly being made, like genome sequencing, that discover precise genetic abnormalities that cause blood malignancies. This makes the oncologists select effective medicine based on the genetic level of the patients.
7. Nanotechnology in medicine: These approaches are being explored to improve the delivery of chemotherapeutic medications and targeted therapies to cancer cells while reducing systemic toxicity. Nanoparticle formulations can increase medication solubility, circulation time, and tumor penetration, increasing therapy efficacy while decreasing negative effects. 

Conclusion

Despite being a serious condition, chronic myeloid leukemia has reached a stage where the disease is manageable due to the treatment options available, including TKIs and the efforts of other clinical trials. Early detection and treatment options available have created a positive outlook for patients with chronic myeloid leukemia. In the face of blood cancer, there is hope and healing. Individuals with Ph+ CML can find hope and healing on their journey by understanding the disease and working closely with healthcare providers. We can make a difference by supporting patients, promoting resilience, and investing in research. Let us stand together in this fight, offering hope and healing to all those affected by blood cancer.