Leukemia: Symptoms, Types, Treatment, and More

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Leukemia: Symptoms, Types, Treatment, and More

Leukemia begins in a cell in the bone marrow. The cell undergoes a change and becomes a type of leukemia cell. Over time, the leukemia cell Am I at Risk?
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Once the marrow cell undergoes a leukemic change, the leukemia cells may grow and survive better than normal cells. Leukemia occurs in both adults and children. ALL is the most common form ofchildhood leukemia, and AML is the second most common. Decades of research have led to vastly improved outcomes for children diagnosed with ALL. The two most common adult leukemias are AML and CLL. Although ex

perts are uncertain about the causes of leukemia, they have identified several risk factors that include the following:

Exposure to high levels of radiation
Repeated exposure to certain chemicals (for example, benzene)
Chemotherapy
Down Syndrome
A strong family history of leukemia
Symptoms vary depending on the type and stage of leukemia, but they can include the following:

Fever, chills, night sweats and other flu-like symptoms
Weakness and fatigue
Swollen or bleeding gums
Headaches
Enlarged liver and spleen
Swollen tonsils
Bone pain
Paleness
Pinhead-size red spots on the skin
Weight loss
How Is Leukemia Treated? Your doctor will conduct a complete blood count (CBC) to determine if you have leukemia. This test may reveal if you have leukemic cells. Abnormal levels of white blood cells and abnormally low red blood cell or platelet counts can also indicate leukemia. If you test positive for leukemia, your doctor will perform a biopsy of your bone marrow to determine which type you have. Treatment depends on your age, general health, and type of leukemia. You might receive a combination of treatments that could include chemotherapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, and stem cell transplantation. Patients with acute leukemia often undergo chemotherapy because this type of treatment targets fast-dividing cells. Many acute leukemia patients have responded successfully to treatment. On the other hand, because the cells divide more slowly in chronic leukemia, it is better treated with targeted therapies that attack slowly dividing cells as opposed to traditional chemotherapy that targets rapidly dividing cells. For some patients, participating in a clinical trial provides access to experimental therapies. If you are diagnosed with leukemia, talk with your doctor about whether joining a clinical trial is right for you. Is Leukemia Preventable? Because the cause of leukemia remains unknown, there is no certain way to prevent it. However, avoiding exposure to solvents, such as benzene and toluene, and unnecessary exposure to x-rays is generally good practice. If you think you may be exhibiting signs of leukemia, being aware of the risk factors and symptoms and talking with your doctor are critical to early diagnosis and treatment. It is especially important for people who have a family history of leukemia to be aware of symptoms and share their family medical history with their doctors.

10/07/2023

Stem cell transplantation
A stem cell transplant (also known as a bone marrow transplant) is a procedure that replaces cancerous bone marrow with new, healthy bone marrow stem cells. Stem cell transplants are usually given after an intense round of chemotherapy that kills the patient’s existing bone marrow cells and prepares the body for transplant. Patients usually must stay in the hospital for three to four weeks after the procedure.

A stem cell transplant may be needed for patients whose leukemia has returned or has not responded to standard treatments. It may also be recommended if the patient has a high-risk form of leukemia that would make a cure with standard treatments unlikely. This treatment can be physically challenging, so it is typically not given to patients who are older or otherwise unhealthy.

10/07/2023

Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses power beams of energy to kill cancer cells. Since leukemia cells travel in the blood stream, there is no distinct tumor to target with radiation therapy like there is for other cancers. Instead, radiation is typically used when the disease has spread to the central nervous system.

10/07/2023

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs kill cancer cells, control their growth or relieve disease-related symptoms. Chemotherapy may involve a single drug or a combination of two or more drugs, depending on the type of cancer and how fast it is growing.

10/07/2023

The goal of leukemia treatment is to put the disease into remission and ultimately cure the patient. For leukemia, complete remission usually means that the patient’s bone marrow has no detectable microscopic evidence of the disease and his or her blood counts have returned to normal.

26/10/2022

How does leukemia develop?
Leukemia begins in bone marrow, the soft spongy tissue in the inner cavity of your bones, where your body’s blood cells are made. Blood cells go through multiple stages before reaching their fully mature forms. Mature, normal blood cells include:
Red blood cells: Cells that carry oxygen and other vital materials to all tissues and organs in your body.
White blood cells: Cells that fight infection.
Platelets: Cells that help your blood clot.
These blood cells start as hematopoietic (hemo = blood, poiesis = make) stem cells. The stem cells develop into either myeloid (MAI-uh-loyd) cells or lymphoid (LIM-foyd) cells. If blood cells were to continue to develop normally, the mature forms of these cells are as follows:
Myeloid cells develop into red blood cells, platelets and certain types of white blood cells (basophils, eosinophils and neutrophils).
Lymphoid cells develop into certain white blood cells (lymphocytes and natural killer cells).
However, if you have leukemia, one of the developing blood cells begins to multiply out of control. These abnormal cells — called leukemia cells — begin to take over the space inside of your bone marrow. They crowd out the cells trying to develop into healthy red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

26/10/2022

Patients with Acute Leukemia Who Are Treated with Common Therapy Have Increased Risk for Heart Failure

10/09/2022

Blood cancer symptoms vary depending on the type of blood cancer, whether it's leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, MDS, MPN or any other blood cancer.
Blood cancer symptoms include:
Weight loss that is unexplained
Bruising or bleeding that is unexplained
Lumps or swellings
Shortness of breath (breathlessness)
Drenching night sweats
Infections that are persistent, recurrent or severe
Fever (38°C or above) that is unexplained
Rash or itchy skin that is unexplained
Pain in your bones, joints or abdomen (stomach area)
Tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest or sleep (fatigue)
Paleness (pallor)
We have more specific information about symptoms for different types of blood cancer. Scroll down for more detailed information about blood cancer symptoms.
Not everyone will have the same symptoms, and some people may have symptoms that are not listed on this page.
Symptoms in different skin tones
Some symptoms of blood cancer can look different on different skin tones.
Bruises generally start as red patches which change colour and get darker over time. They often feel tender. On black and brown skin, bruises may be difficult to see initially, but as they develop, they show up as darker than the skin around them.
Rashes often appear as clusters of tiny spots (petechiae) or larger blotches (purpura). On black and brown skin, they may look purple or darker than the surrounding skin. On lighter skin, they typically look red or purple. If you press on them, petechiae and purpura don’t fade.
Paleness (pallor) might mean someone looks unusually pale because they have too few red blood cells. Pallor is often more immediately noticeable in light skin. People with black or brown skin may look greyish and their palms may look paler than usual. They might also notice pallor in their lips, gums, tongue or nail beds. In all skin tones, pallor can be seen by pulling down the lower eyelid. The inside is normally dark pink or red, but if it’s pale pink or white, it’s a sign of pallor.
You can read more about the causes of these symptoms and others below.
We'd like to thank the ACLT (African Caribbean Leukaemia Trust) for their help reviewing this information. ACLT raises awareness about stem cell, blood and organ donation in all UK communities, with a focus on the African and Caribbean communities.
Free blood cancer symptoms guide

10/09/2022

Symptoms depend, in part, on the type of leukemia. For instance, if you have a chronic form of leukemia, you may not have noticeable symptoms in the early stages.
Common signs and symptoms of leukemia include:
Fatigue, tiring easily.
Fever or night sweats.
Frequent infections.
Shortness of breath.
Pale skin.
Unexplained weight loss.
Bone/joint pain or tenderness.
Pain or full feeling under your ribs on the left side.
Swollen lymph nodes in your neck, underarm, groin or stomach, an enlarged spleen or liver.
Bruising and bleeding easily, including nosebleeds, bleeding gums, a rash that looks like tiny red spots in skin (petechiae) or purplish/darkened skin patches.

10/09/2022

Classifications of leukemia
Healthcare providers classify leukemia based on how quickly it progresses and the type of blood cell involved.
By speed of disease progression
Acute leukemia. The leukemia cells divide rapidly and the disease progresses quickly. If you have acute leukemia, you’ll feel sick within weeks of the leukemia cells forming. Acute leukemia is life-threatening and requires immediate initiation of therapy. Acute leukemia is the most common cancer in children.
Chronic leukemia. Often, these leukemia cells behave as both immature and mature blood cells. Some cells develop to the point where they function as the cells they were meant to become — but not to the extent their normal counterparts do. The disease typically worsens slowly compared to acute leukemia. If you have chronic leukemia, you may not have noticeable symptoms for years. Chronic leukemia is more common in adults than in children.
By cell type
Myelogenous (mai-uh-lOW-juh-nuhs) or myeloid leukemia develops from myeloid cells. Normal myeloid cells develop into red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Lymphocytic leukemia develops from lymphoid cells. Normal lymphoid cells develop into white blood cells that are an important part of your body’s immune system.

15/08/2022

Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Previous chemotherapy and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of developing ALL.
Signs and symptoms of adult ALL include fever, feeling tired, and easy bruising or bleeding.
Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow are used to diagnose adult ALL.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; also called acute lymphocytic leukemia) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated.

15/08/2022

Leukemia is a broad term for cancers of the blood cells. The type of leukemia depends on the type of blood cell that becomes cancer and whether it grows quickly or slowly. Leukemia occurs most often in adults older than 55, but it is also the most common cancer in children younger than 15. Explore the links on this page to learn more about the types of leukemia plus treatment, statistics, research, and clinical trials.

13/08/2022

CAR T cell therapy
T cells are a type of immune system cell. They help the immune system respond to disease and directly kill diseased cells. In Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, T cells are modified so they are able to recognize and attack cancer cells.

26/06/2022

In ALL, too many stem cells become lymphoblasts, B lymphocytes, or T lymphocytes. These cells are also called leukemia cells. These leukemia cells are not able to fight infection very well. Also, as the number of leukemia cells increases in the blood and bone marrow, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This may cause infection, anemia, and easy bleeding. The cancer can also spread to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), lymph nodes, spleen, liver, testicles, and other organs.
This summary is about adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia. See the following PDQ summaries for information about other types of leukemia:
Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treatment
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Treatment
Childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia/Other Myeloid Malignancies Treatment
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Treatment
Hairy Cell Leukemia Treatment
Previous chemotherapy and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of developing ALL.
Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. Talk with your doctor if you think you may be at risk. Possible risk factors for ALL include the following:
Being male.
Being White.
Being older than 70.
Past treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Being exposed to high levels of radiation in the environment (such as nuclear radiation).
Having certain genetic disorders, such as Down syndrome.
Signs and symptoms of adult ALL include fever, feeling tired, and easy bruising or bleeding.
The early signs and symptoms of ALL may be like the flu or other common diseases. Check with your doctor if you have any of the following:
Weakness or feeling tired.
Fever or drenching night sweats.
Easy bruising or bleeding.
Petechiae (flat, pinpoint spots under the skin, caused by bleeding).
Shortness of breath.
Weight loss or loss of appetite.
Pain in the bones or stomach.
Pain or feeling of fullness below the ribs.
Painless lumps in the neck, underarm, stomach, or groin.
Having many infections.
These and other signs and symptoms may be caused by adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia or by other conditions.
Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow are used to diagnose adult ALL.
The following tests and procedures may be used:
Physical exam and health history: An exam of the body to check general signs of health, including checking for signs of disease, such as infection or anything else that seems unusual. A history of the patient's health habits and past illnesses and treatments will also be taken.
Complete blood count (CBC) with differential: A procedure in which a sample of blood is drawn and checked for the following:
The number of red blood cells and platelets.
The number and type of white blood cells.
The amount of hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen) in the red blood cells.
The portion of the blood sample made up of red blood cells.
ENLARGE

26/06/2022

Anatomy of the bone. The bone is made up of compact bone, spongy bone, and bone marrow. Compact bone makes up the outer layer of the bone. Spongy bone is found mostly at the ends of bones and contains red marrow. Bone marrow is found in the center of most bones and has many blood vessels. There are two types of bone marrow: red and yellow. Red marrow contains blood stem cells that can become red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Yellow marrow is made mostly of fat.
Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Normally, the bone marrow makes blood stem cells (immature cells) that become mature blood cells over time. A blood stem cell may become a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell.
A myeloid stem cell becomes one of three types of mature blood cells:
Red blood cells that carry oxygen and other substances to all tissues of the body.
Platelets that form blood clots to stop bleeding.
Granulocytes (white blood cells) that fight infection and disease.
A lymphoid stem cell becomes a lymphoblast cell and then one of three types of lymphocytes (white blood cells):
B lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection.
T lymphocytes that help B lymphocytes make the antibodies that help fight infection.
Natural killer cells that attack cancer cells and viruses.
ENLARGE

26/06/2022

General Information About Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
KEY POINTS
Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Previous chemotherapy and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of developing ALL.
Signs and symptoms of adult ALL include fever, feeling tired, and easy bruising or bleeding.
Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow are used to diagnose adult ALL.
Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell).
Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; also called acute lymphocytic leukemia) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated.

26/06/2022

Leukaemia is cancer of blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow. Many types exist such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
Many patients with slow-growing types of leukaemia don't have symptoms. Rapidly growing types of leukaemia may cause symptoms that include fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections and easy bleeding or bruising.
Treatment is highly variable. For slow-growing leukaemias, treatment may include monitoring. For aggressive leukaemias, treatment includes chemotherapy that's sometimes followed by radiation and stem-cell transplant.

25/06/2022

Experts often do not know why leukemia happens, but environmental and genetic factors likely play a roleTrusted Source.
While genetic features may not cause leukemia, they may make it more likely to appear in certain conditions, for example, after exposure to some chemicals or infections.
Risk factors will depend on the type. Some risk factors are avoidable, but others are not.
Scientists have found links between leukemia and various factors, although more research is needed to confirm most of them.
They include Trusted Source:
a history of certain infections, such as the Epstein-Barr virus
exposure to ionizing radiation, for example, during radiation therapy for a previous cancer, background radiation, or being near a site where people were testing nuclear weapons
having a high or low birth weight
being male, as rates are higher among males
exposure to pesticides and air pollution
having parents who smoke to***co
having a cesarean delivery before labor started
having a genetic condition such asTrusted Source Down syndrome or Klinefelter syndrome
exposure to benzene
a previous history of chemotherapy
having already had one type of blood cancer

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Anatomy of the bone. The bone is made up of compact bone, spongy bone, and bone marrow. Compact bone makes up the outer layer of the bone. Spongy bone is found mostly at the ends of bones and contains red marrow. Bone marrow is found in the center of most bones and has many blood vessels. There are two types of bone marrow: red and yellow. Red marrow contains blood stem cells that can become red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. Yellow marrow is made mostly of fat. Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Normally, the bone marrow makes blood stem cells (immature cells) that become mature blood cells over time. A blood stem cell may become a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell. A myeloid stem cell becomes one of three types of mature blood cells: Red blood cells that carry oxygen and other substances to all tissues of the body. Platelets that form blood clots to stop bleeding. Granulocytes (white blood cells) that fight infection and disease. A lymphoid stem cell becomes a lymphoblast cell and then one of three types of lymphocytes (white blood cells): B lymphocytes that make antibodies to help fight infection. T lymphocytes that help B lymphocytes make the antibodies that help fight infection. Natural killer cells that attack cancer cells and viruses. ENLARGE

General Information About Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia KEY POINTS Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Leukemia may affect red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Previous chemotherapy and exposure to radiation may increase the risk of developing ALL. Signs and symptoms of adult ALL include fever, feeling tired, and easy bruising or bleeding. Tests that examine the blood and bone marrow are used to diagnose adult ALL. Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options. Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow makes too many lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell). Adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; also called acute lymphocytic leukemia) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. This type of cancer usually gets worse quickly if it is not treated.

Leukaemia is cancer of blood-forming tissues, including bone marrow. Many types exist such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Many patients with slow-growing types of leukaemia don't have symptoms. Rapidly growing types of leukaemia may cause symptoms that include fatigue, weight loss, frequent infections and easy bleeding or bruising. Treatment is highly variable. For slow-growing leukaemias, treatment may include monitoring. For aggressive leukaemias, treatment includes chemotherapy that's sometimes followed by radiation and stem-cell transplant.

How do monoclonal antibodies work to treat cancer? This video shows how monoclonal antibodies, such as trastuzumab, pembrolizumab, and rituximab, block molecules cancer cells need to grow, flag cancer cells for destruction by the body’s immune system, or deliver harmful substances to cancer cells. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy: This treatment blocks the enzyme, tyrosine kinase, that causes stem cells to develop into more white blood cells (blasts) than the body needs. Imatinib mesylate, dasatinib, and nilotinib are tyrosine kinase inhibitors used to treat adult ALL.

Leukemia Leukemia is a type of cancer found in your blood and bone marrow and is caused by the rapid production of abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal white blood cells are not able to fight infection and impair the ability of the bone marrow to produce red blood cells and platelets. Leukemia can be either acute or chronic. Chronic leukemia progresses more slowly than acute leukemia, which requires immediate treatment. Leukemia is also classified as lymphocytic or myelogenous. Lymphocytic leukemia refers to abnormal cell growth in the marrow cells that become lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that plays a role in the immune system. In myelogenous leukemia, abnormal cell growth occurs in the marrow cells that mature into red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. There are four broad classifications of leukemia: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) Leukemia occurs in both adults and children. ALL is the most common form ofchildhood leukemia, and AML is the second most common. Decades of research have led to vastly improved outcomes for children diagnosed with ALL. The two most common adult leukemias are AML and CLL.

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