CML Society of Canada - CML Awareness Day celebrates great progress against
blood cancer but much more needed to ensure best outcomes for Canadian
patients

MP Joy Smith joins in encouraging public to help by donating blood and signing on to bone marrow donor registry to facilitate transplants

OTTAWA, Sept. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - CML Awareness Day is being marked today, September 22, as an occasion to celebrate the great progress that new treatments have made in fighting this blood cancer, chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML).

At the same time, the CML Society of Canada, a not-for-profit patient education and support organization which held the first CML Awareness Day in 2008, is cautioning that much more remains to be done to ensure that all persons with the disease are given the treatments and services to ensure the best possible outcome and best quality of life. We are so close to possibly curing this disease, we need this victory to carry over to all cancers.

CML was the first cancer for which scientists were able to identify the genetic anomaly involved - the Philadelphia chromosome - a discovery that led to the development of the first targeted cancer therapy. There are now several such therapies for CML and while they are highly effective and can give the majority of CML patients a new lease on life, they are not a cure. Many patients require regular blood transfusions and some need bone marrow transplants. Further stem cell research is also vital to fighting not only this disease, but many other cancers.

"CML and other cancers put a serious burden not just on the person with the disease but also on their families and friends," said Joy Smith, Member of Parliament for the Winnipeg-area riding of Kildonan-St. Paul and chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. "In some cases, there are patients who have difficulty finding a bone marrow donor when their condition becomes more aggressive. I urge all Canadians who are healthy to consider registering as bone marrow donors. It is a simple and easy procedure and it helps people with hematological cancers have better outcomes. We also need to do everything we can to ensure the treatments and support services are available to patients and their families so they have the best chance of overcoming their disease, while we continue working on stem cell research in an effort to find cures. The good news is that many people are able to be successfully treated and continue living productive lives, enjoying their families, for many years."

Yesterday, Member of Parliament Joy Smith read a member's statement recognizing CML Awareness Day in the House of Commons. She will host a mid-day reception in Ottawa today to mark the occasion.

"The more Canadians hear the stories of people fighting blood cancers, the more they will understand the importance of helping by supporting greater accessibility to treatments and services, by donating blood regularly and by signing on to the bone marrow donor registry," said Cheryl-Anne Simoneau, President and CEO of the CML Society of Canada, who was diagnosed with CML almost 10 years ago at age 43. "Access to treatment and drugs should not be based on a postal code lottery, meaning that depending on where you live will decide how well you can survive your cancer diagnosis.  Essentially Canada desperately needs a catastrophic drug plan."

CML Awareness Day is marked on September 22 (9/22) because the Philadelphia chromosome which most often causes the disease develops after birth when chromosomes 9 and 22 exchange some of their genetic material, forming a new one. It is estimated that by 2050 nearly 300,000 people in North America will be living with CML.

In Canada approximately 460 new cases of CML are diagnosed each year, which represents one case for every 100,000 people. It is estimated that approximately 3,000 Canadians are currently living with this very rare form of leukemia, which primarily occurs during or after middle age, though it can occur at any age.

About the CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) Society of Canada
Established in 2006, the CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia) Society provides support, education and information on CML, current and emerging treatments and research initiatives for people living with CML and their families. Through these efforts and ongoing advocacy, the CML Society advances its mission to help reduce suffering and improve care and the quality of life of CML patients. For more information, please refer to www.cmlsociety.org.

About CML (Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia)
Chronic Myelogenous leukemia (CML) is one of four types of leukemia and is a slowly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow that is characterized by an overproduction of white blood cells. Normally, cells are formed, mature, carry out their function, die, and are replaced with new cells. With CML the normal blood cell production process is disrupted. The white blood cells produce uncontrollably and do not mature to carry out their intended function and ultimately crowd out the healthy cells. There are three different phases to CML: chronic, accelerated and blast. Results of a blood test will determine the phase.

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