Treatments for various types of childhood leukemia evolve and improve over time. The treatments for CML described in this chapter were the ones most commonly used when this book was written. You can learn about the newest treatments available by calling the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at (800) 422-6237 and asking for information on childhood CML. This free information explains the disease, state-of-the-art treatments, and any ongoing clinical trials. Two versions are available:

• One for families, which uses simple language and contains no statistics; and
• One for health professionals, which is technical, thorough, and includes citations to scientific literature.

For accurate and up-to-date online information about CML, visit the NCI website at www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/cml-treatment-pdq.

My daughter has taken Gleevec® for 11 years. The first couple of years she had the normal side effects—nausea, rashes, headaches. Those gradually faded away so now, 11 years later, she only has a little rash and occasionally feels more tired than usual. But, her body seems to have adjusted so it has become much easier for her. That said, she only missed two days of school because of the CML and few people know she has cancer. She doesn’t want to be treated differently than any other young woman. She’s living a great life and has touched many people’s lives. Because of the “magic bullet” Gleevec®, she was able to play varsity soccer throughout high school and now in college. One of our favorite 4-letter words is HOPE.