What is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, the cancer Brian Boyle has?
The New Jersey Devils have released a statement that forward Brian Boyle has been diagnosed with cancer. The type has been listed as chronic myeloid leukemia.
Brian Boyle, 32, of the New Jersey Devils has been diagnosed with cancer. The Devils organization released a statement earlier Tuesday that the diagnosis is Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML).
According to cancer.org, CML is, “Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also known as chronic myelogenous leukemia, is a type of cancer that starts in certain blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. In CML, a genetic change takes place in an early (immature) version of myeloid cells – the cells that make red blood cells, platelets, and most types of white blood cells (except lymphocytes). This change forms an abnormal gene called BCR-ABL, which turns the cell into a CML cell. The leukemia cells grow and divide, building up in the bone marrow and spilling over into the blood. In time, the cells can also settle in other parts of the body, including the spleen. CML is a fairly slow growing leukemia, but it can also change into a fast-growing acute leukemia that is hard to treat.”
The good news in all of this, as stated in the tweet above, is that it was caught early on. And as referenced by cancer.org, the early stages are treatable with proper medications, and that it is a slow-growing leukemia.
Boyle is not a stranger to cancer either. Back in 2014 he wrote an article for ESPN about how his father, Arthur Boyle, beat cancer himself. Boyle speaks about how it was a hard journey, but that his family beat cancer more than once.
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Boyle also spoke about the diagnosis saying,
"“I feel very fortunate, very blessed,” Boyle said Tuesday. “We’ve had a tremendous outpouring of prayers, and if there’s anything I can ask is that that continues, because that’s something I’ve seen firsthand heal cancers and heal situations that were said to be untreatable.For us, we’re in a good spot, we have a good plan of attack here, and I’m looking forward to getting on the ice and playing. When that happens, I don’t know, but my mindset is on Oct. 7 (the season opener against the Colorado Avalanche). I don’t like missing games.”"
If you want to learn more about CML or make a donation, please visit Hockey Fights Cancer.