Content

• Steps

Leukemia is a blood cancer, affecting the white blood cells that are responsible for fighting infection and disease. Leukemia occurs when abnormal white blood cells invade healthy white blood cells and lead to serious problems. Leukemia can grow quickly or slowly and there are many different types. You should learn to recognize the common symptoms of leukemia so that you can treat them promptly.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Spot Common Symptoms

1. 

   Check for flu-like symptoms. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, or chills. If your symptoms improve and you get better after a few days, you may just have the flu. If your symptoms persist, see your doctor. People with leukemia often think they only have the flu or other infections. You should pay special attention to the following symptoms:
   • Persistent weakness or fatigue
   • Frequent or severe nosebleeds
   • Recurrent infection
   • Unexplained weight loss
   • Inflammation of the lymph nodes
   • Swollen spleen or liver
   • Bleeding or bruising easily
   • Red spots appear on the skin
   • Sweating a lot
   • Bone pain
   • Bleeding gums

2. 

   
   
   Consider your fatigue level. Chronic fatigue is often an early symptom of leukemia. Because this is a fairly common symptom, many people often take it lightly. Weakness or lack of energy can accompany fatigue.
   • Chronic fatigue is different from normal fatigue. If you feel unable to focus or remember more than usual, you may be chronically tired. Other symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, sudden muscle pain, sore throat, or severe exhaustion lasting more than a day.
   • You may also find that weakness, such as limb weakness, makes the activity more difficult than usual.
   • In addition to fatigue and weakness, pale skin symptoms should also be considered. These changes may be due to anemia, which means low levels of hemoglobin in the blood. Hemoglobin is responsible for transporting oxygen to tissues and cells.

3. 

   
   
   Keep track of your weight. Losing a lot of weight and of unknown cause is often a symptom of leukemia and other types of cancer. This symptom is called Cachexia (Weakness Syndrome). This symptom is usually not obvious and is not necessarily a sign of cancer (if it appears on its own). However, you should see your doctor if you lose weight that wasn't caused by a change in your eating or exercise habits.
   • Weight change is normal. However, be careful if your weight loss is slow and steady even if you are not planning to lose weight.
   • Weight loss caused by illness is often accompanied by a feeling of lack of energy and weakness.

4. 

   
   
   Pay attention to bruising and bleeding. People with leukemia often have a tendency to bruise and bleed easily. This is partly due to the low red blood cell and platelet count leading to anemia.
   • Note if you bruise just from light impact or bleed a lot with just a small cut This is an especially important symptom. Also, be careful if your gums bleed.

5. 

   Check on the skin for small red spots (hemorrhage). These red spots look very distinctive and do not resemble the usual spots that appear after exercise or have acne.
   • Seek immediate medical attention if red, round, and small spots suddenly appear on the skin. Red spots often resemble a rash and grow in clusters on the skin.

6. 

   Notice if you have frequent infections. Leukemia damages healthy white blood cells, so sick people tend to have constant infections. If you have frequent skin infections, sore throats, or ear infections, your immunity may be weakened.

7. 

   Watch for bone pain or soreness. Bone pain is not a common symptom, but it can also be present. If you experience unexplained bone pain, you should get tested for leukemia.
   • Leukemia bone pain is caused by the fact that the bone marrow contains too many white blood cells. Disease cells can also move near bones or in joints.

8. 

   Understand your risk factors. Some people are more prone to leukemia than the average person. While people with risk factors are unlikely to develop leukemia, it's important to be aware of them. You have a higher risk of leukemia than the average person if:
   • Have ever had cancer treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy
   • Hereditary disorders
   • Smoke
   • Family history of a loved one with leukemia
   • Contact with chemicals such as benzene
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Method 2 of 2: Leukemia test

1. 

   Physical health check. Your doctor will see if your skin is abnormally pale. Pale skin can be caused by anemia associated with leukemia. Your doctor will also check to see if the lymph nodes are swollen, or if the liver and spleen are larger than normal.
   • Swollen lymph nodes are also a sign of lymphoma.
   • An enlarged spleen is also a symptom of many other diseases, such as infectious mononucleosis.

2. 

   Blood tests. Your doctor will take a blood sample for testing or send a blood sample to a lab to evaluate your white blood cell or platelet count. If the white blood cell or platelet count is significantly high, you may undergo more tests (MRI, spinal puncture, CT scan).

3. 

   Get a bone marrow biopsy. In this test, the doctor will insert a long, thin needle into the hip bone to extract marrow. The marrow sample is then taken to the laboratory to find out if there are leukemia cells.Depending on the results, your doctor may order additional tests.

4. 

   Receive diagnosis. After a thorough examination of your condition, your doctor will diagnose the condition. Diagnosis can take a long time because test results are required. However, you usually get results within a few weeks. If leukemia is found, your doctor will tell you what type of leukemia you have and talk to you about treatment.
   • Your doctor will tell if your leukemia is growing fast (acute) or slowly (chronic).
   • The doctor will then determine which type of white blood cell carries the disease. Lymphocytes affect lymphocytes. Myelogenous leukocytes affect myeloid cells.
   • Adults can have all types of leukemia. Meanwhile, children often have acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
   • Both children and adults are at risk for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), but the disease develops more rapidly in adults.
   • Chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) occur in adults, and symptoms may appear after a few years.
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