Edwina Bartholomew Reveals Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Diagnosis on Sunrise Show
During a recent episode of Sunrise, Edwina Bartholomew emotionally revealed her diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML). At 44, she shared that this treatable cancer can be managed with a daily tablet. CML, a rare blood and bone marrow cancer, affects primarily those over 40 and is diagnosed in about 330 Australians each year, representing just 0.03 percent of all cancer cases.
In a heartfelt moment on Friday's episode of Sunrise, Edwina Bartholomew revealed her recent diagnosis of Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML). The 44-year-old television presenter assured her audience that the condition is manageable with medication, expressing optimism about her health moving forward.
Understanding Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia and Its Effects
Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia is a rare form of cancer that impacts both the blood and bone marrow. According to the Leukaemia Foundation, this condition leads to an overproduction of white blood cells known as granulocytes. These cells, often referred to as 'leukaemic blasts', can overwhelm the bone marrow and disrupt the formation of normal blood cells. Eventually, these cells can enter the bloodstream, affecting the body as a whole. Each year, around 330 Australians are diagnosed with CML, which represents only 0.03 percent of total cancer diagnoses in the country.
Demographics and Progression of the Disease
CML can manifest at any age, although it is significantly more prevalent in individuals over 40, who comprise nearly 70 percent of all CML cases. The condition is also found more frequently in men compared to women. Typically, CML develops slowly, progressing through three distinct phases: chronic, accelerated, and blast, over weeks or months.
Symptoms and Treatment Options for CML
Over 90 percent of patients are diagnosed in the early chronic phase, where blood counts remain relatively stable, and blast cells constitute five percent or less of the blood and bone marrow. During this chronic phase, most individuals experience few, if any, troubling symptoms. The Leukaemia Foundation highlights that progression to more serious forms occurs in just five percent of cases. In the accelerated phase, there may be an increase in the blast cells in the blood and bone marrow. If untreated, this phase can lead to blast phase CML, which can resemble acute leukaemia. However, patients responsive to drug therapy experience a significantly reduced transformation risk. Treatment typically involves tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which inhibit the enzyme bcr-abl to curb the growth of leukaemic cells, tailored according to the disease's phase, the patient's age, and overall health.
