Common Signs & Symptoms
Common symptoms of leukemia
The specific symptoms of leukemia depend on the type (AML, ALL, CML, or CLL). However, common signs of all forms include:
- fatigue, paleness, dizziness, or weakness
- back, leg or joint pain
- difficulty standing or walking
- unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
- fever that lasts several days
- night sweats
- getting a lot of infections
- swollen lymph nodes (neck, armpit area), liver, or spleen
- unusual bleeding (frequent nose bleeds, bleeding gums, petechiae [red pinpoints on the skin])
- easily bruised
Detection & Diagnosis
The doctor will conduct a physical examination, looking for swollen lymph nodes and check to see if the patient's spleen or liver is enlarged. If the patient shows symptoms of leukemia, the doctor might conduct blood tests since leukemia causes a high level of white blood cells and low levels of other cells like platelets and hemoglobin (red blood cells). If blood test results come back and are abnormal, the doctor may suggest a bone marrow biopsy, which allows the doctor look at cells from inside the patient's bone.
