Signs of leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow that occurs when this normal production process is disrupted, producing immature bone marrow cells called blasts. This blasts of leukemia crowd out normal bone marrow cells and reduce normal blood cells. Here are some common symptoms of the disease.

In the early stages, leukemia often has no symptoms, or symptoms develop slowly. Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) grow more quickly and symptoms may worsen more quickly than chronic leukemia (CML and CLL).

Some symptoms of leukemia, such as night sweats, fever, and fatigue, can be confused with flu symptoms. If you have the flu, your symptoms may subside, so if they persist for a long time, you should see your doctor right away.

Signs of leukemia

- Fever, chills

- Tired, weak body

- Anorexia, weight loss

- Night sweats

- Bone and joint pain

- Abdominal discomfort

- Headache

- Shortness of breath

- Frequent infections

- Easy bruising or bleeding

- Small red dots appear under the skin (hemorrhage)

Other potential symptoms of leukemia

Anemia:Low red blood cell count. Blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body, and low red blood cell counts can lead to fatigue, shortness of breath, and weakness.

Leukopenia:Reduced production of functional leukocytes (white blood cells) weakens the body's immune system, making you more susceptible to infections.

Decreased platelet count:Low platelet count. Platelets are blood cells responsible for blood clotting. Anemia can cause the patient to bruise or bleed easily.

Swollen lymph nodes:Some patients experience swelling in the neck, armpit, or groin. This occurs when leukemia has spread to the lymph nodes.

Enlarged liver or spleen:A buildup of abnormal blood cells in the liver or spleen can cause a feeling of fullness (anorexia) or swelling in the upper, left side of the abdomen.

Confirmation of the diagnosis requires blood tests and a bone marrow examination. Tests will show a high white blood cell count and often contain immature white blood cells called blasts. A low red blood cell count indicates anemia, while the platelet count is often low (thrombocytopenia).

However, to confirm the diagnosis, bone marrow aspiration and biopsy are required. Recently, bone marrow samples have also been used for more specialized tests such as flow cytometry, cytogenetic analysis, and specific molecular markers. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy usually confirms the diagnosis of leukemia, while these specialized tests provide a better understanding of the exact type of leukemia and prognostic indicators.

A bone marrow examination is usually performed at the back of the pelvis (called the Posterior Superior Iliopsacral Spine). For acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a lumbar puncture is also necessary. This procedure obtains fluid from the brain (called cerebrospinal fluid, CSF) to determine if there is leukemic infiltration common with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Based on the signs of leukemia, patients need to proactively examine and treat as soon as possible.

According to VNN