Referral to a specialist for symptoms of CML
Your GP should refer you for a blood test if you have symptoms that could be due to chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). They might refer you to a blood specialist (haematologist).
Seeing your GP
Most patients who see a GP do not have cancer and have symptoms due to a more minor condition. For some symptoms, your doctor may ask you to wait to see if the symptoms get better or respond to treatment, such as antibiotics.
There are guidelines for GPs to help them decide who needs a referral.
UK referral guidelines
Some of the UK nations have targets around how quickly you’ll be seen. In England an urgent referral means that you should see a specialist within 2 weeks.
This 2 week time frame is not part of the waiting time targets for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. But wherever you live, you are seen as quickly as possible.
Ask your GP when you are likely to get an appointment
Urgent referral to a specialist
The referral guidelines vary slightly between the different UK nations. The following is a summary. Your GP will use these guidelines as well as their own experience and judgement.
If you are over 24 years old
Adults over 24 years old should be referred for an urgent full blood count within 2 days, for any of the following symptoms:
- look unusually pale
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- unexplained high temperature (fever)
- unexplained infections that won't go away or keep coming back
- swollen lymph glands
- bruising or bleeding for no reason
- red or purple spots on your skin - petechia
- an enlarged spleen or liver on examination
If you are aged 24 or under
Your GP should refer you immediately - within a few hours - to a specialist if you have:
- unexplained red or purple spots on the skin - petechia
- an enlarged liver or spleen on examination
Your GP should offer you an urgent full blood count within 2 days if you have any of the following symptoms:
- look unusually pale :
- extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- unexplained high temperature (fever)
- infections that won't go away
- swollen lymph glands
- bone pain that won't go away
- bruising or bleeding for no reason
Remember most people with one or more of these symptoms don't have leukaemia. But it's important to get any symptoms checked out by your GP.
If you're still worried
Sometimes you might feel that your GP is not concerned enough about your symptoms. If you think they should be more concerned, print this page and the symptoms page. Ask your GP to explain why they don’t think you need a referral.
Contact your GP again if your symptoms don't get better or you notice any new or unusual symptoms.
