Leukemia Symptoms

By definition, leukemia is the cancer of the blood cells. Because blood cells start as stem cells that create bone marrow, leukemia is a very difficult category of cancer for treatment.
Two Types of Blood Cell
Leukemia can be caused by two different sets of blood cells. The type of leukemia known as Myelogenous involve red blood cells that carry oxygen, platelets that assist with clotting, and some of the white blood cells that are for the immune system. The second type of leukemia affects on the white blood cells.
Leukemia is further broken into two more categories, each contingent on if the illness is acute or chronic. The acute type of leukemia is a rapid onset and leads to death in a very short period of time, such as weeks or months if the leukemia is not treated. Leukemia has four common types of cancers and two uncommon as well. Below is a synopsis of each kind:
  • Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) afflicts people over age 55, and very seldom seen in children
  • Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) involves all ages although more often found in children. The maximum leukemia survival rates are for children with this type of leukemia.
  • Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) typically affects adults.
  • Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) afflicts people of all ages.
  • Hairy cell leukemia is a rare condition which causes enlargement of the spleen. It can be treated with drugs or spleen removal.
  • T-cell leukemia specifically affects one type of immune system cell, making them malignant. These cells usually attack virus infected cells and cancer cells, and generate substances that regulate the immune system.
 
The problem with leukemia symptoms are that they could be caused by other illnesses and could mask the symptoms of the cancer. Determining that the cancer is present must be done with tests that verify that the cancer cells are present. The following symptoms may make the patient aware that something is terribly wrong and needs attention from a health care practitioner:
  • Weight loss.
  • Headache and pain in the bones or joints.
  • Frequent night sweats.
  • Weakness or tiredness.
  • Abdominal discomfort.
  • Swollen lymph nodes located in the back of the head and nape, armpit, or groin.
  • Bruising or bleeding easily.
 

Cancer