Leukemia

Leukemia (leukaemia in Commonwealth English) is a group of blood diseases characterized by malignancies (cancer) of the blood-forming tissues. Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer in the industrialised world; in the UK, around one in 2000 children are affected.

Symptoms

Damage to the bone marrow results in a lack of blood platelets, which are important in the blood clotting process. This means people with leukemia may become bruised, bleed excessively, or develop pinprick bleeds (petechiae).

Related Topics:
Platelet - Blood clotting - Bruised - Bleed - Petechiae

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White blood cells, which are involved in fighting pathogens, may be suppressed or dysfunctional, putting the patient at risk of infection.

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Finally, the red blood cell deficiency leads to anemia, which may cause shortness of breath and fatigue. Bone or joint pain may occur because of cancer spreading to these areas. Headaches and vomiting are indicative of the cancer having disseminated to the central nervous system.

Related Topics:
Anemia - Shortness of breath - Fatigue - Bone - Joint - Pain - Headache - Vomiting - Central nervous system

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Enlarged lymph nodes or splenomegaly (an enlarged spleen) may occur in some types. All symptoms may also be attributable to other diseases; for diagnosis, blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy are required.

Related Topics:
Lymph nodes - Splenomegaly - Spleen - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Blood test - Bone marrow biopsy

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Some other related symptoms:

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• Fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms;
• Weakness and fatigue;
• Loss of appetite and/or weight;
• Swollen or bleeding gums;
• Sweating, especially at night;
• Bone or joint pain.
• Neurological symptoms (headache, paralysis, seizures) due to involvement of the brain (acute leukemias)
• Swelling of the testicle(s) and cause swelling.
• Skin symptoms