The symptoms you experience will depend on whether your disease is chronic or acute and the type of blood cells it affects. Acute forms begin rapidly and typically show symptoms like easy bleeding, fever, and fatigue. The cells in acute leukemia are also larger and more aggressive. People with chronic leukemias develop symptoms more slowly, because the affected cells are more mature and don’t impact other organ systems in the same way. Chronic leukemia may present with less-pronounced symptoms.
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Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
ALL is most common in children and affects immature white blood cells called lymphoid cells as they develop in the bone marrow.
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- Fever
- Sweating at night
- Appetite loss
- Unwanted or unexpected weight loss
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Breathlessness
- Fever
- Infections that repeatedly recur or don’t go away
- Easy bruising or bleeding, such as bleeding gums or a heavy menstrual flow in women
- Pale skin, although this can be more challenging to identify in people with darker skin tones
If leukemia cells build up in the liver and spleen, you may feel full after only eating a small meal or notice swelling in your belly.
Sometimes, leukemia can cause bone or joint pain from the cells growing in the bone marrow.
If ALL spreads to other places in your body, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Enlarged lymph nodes if the cancer spreads to the lymph nodes
- Headaches, weakness, seizures, vomiting, facial numbness, blurred vision, or balance issues if the cancer spreads to your brain or spinal cord
- Fluid buildup and breathing difficulties if the cancer spreads to your chest
A subtype of ALL can affect the thymus, a small organ in the middle of your chest. An enlarged thymus can cause coughing or trouble breathing. It can also press on the superior vena cava (SVC), a large vein. If this occurs, blood can back up in the veins, leading to a severe condition called SVC syndrome that can lead to the following:
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- Swelling of the face, neck, arms, and chest
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Altered consciousness
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
AML is one of the most common leukemias in adults. Usually, it begins in early cell forms that go on to become white blood cells called myeloid cells. Generally, AML progresses rapidly and requires immediate treatment.
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If the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cancer cells, called blasts, become very high in number, they can cause a serious condition known as leukostasis, which literally means slowing of the normal blood flow due to congestion. This can lead to symptoms such as:
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- Headache
- Slurred speech
- Weakness on one side of the body
- Confusion
- Sleepiness
- Shortness of breath
- Blurry vision or loss of vision
Some people with AML may have bone or joint pain if the leukemia builds up in the bone marrow in these areas.
If AML spreads to the skin, it can cause spots that look like a rash. Certain types of AML may affect the gums, causing pain, swelling, and bleeding. Enlarged lumps under the skin of the neck, groin, underarms, or collarbone are a sign that the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes.
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When cancer cells build up in the liver or spleen, the organs may enlarge, causing abdominal swelling or a sense of fullness.
People with a certain type of AML, known as acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), may experience bleeding and clotting problems.
AML can spread to your brain or spinal cord. This could cause:
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- Weakness
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Balance problems
- Blurred vision
- Numbness in the face
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Anemia can affect someone with CLL, leading to weakness, tiredness, and shortness of breath. But people with CLL often have vague symptoms that other conditions can cause.
CLL affects B lymphocyte cells, which typically help fight infections. People with CLL may also have a high or low white blood cell count. Because their bone marrow is producing too many abnormal blood cells, they don’t have enough healthy cells. As a result, they may experience recurrent infections that don’t resolve on their own.
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Bruising, bleeding, frequent nosebleeds, and bleeding gums may occur when you have a shortage of platelets in your blood.
If CLL affects your liver or spleen, you may feel fullness after only a small meal or experience belly pain or swelling. Swollen lymph nodes are another possible sign of CLL.
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
If symptoms develop, people with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) often experience many of the same symptoms as those with CLL. But most people with CML don’t have symptoms at the point of diagnosis. Doctors often identify it during blood tests for other health problems.
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The most common sign of CML is an abnormal white blood cell count on blood tests. Very high or low white blood cell counts can lead to frequent infections that are hard to fight off.
But some people with CML may report bone or joint pain if leukemia cells spread from the marrow to the surface of the bone or joint.
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