Symptoms of Leukemia

General information about symptoms of Leukemia: The symptom information on this page attempts to provide a list of some possible symptoms of Leukemia. This symptom information has been gathered from various sources, may not be fully accurate, and may not be the full list of symptoms of Leukemia. Furthermore, symptoms of Leukemia may vary on an individual basis for each patient. Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of symptoms and whether they are indeed symptoms of Leukemia.

List of symptoms of Leukemia: The list of symptoms mentioned in various sources for Leukemia includes:

No early symptoms - especially in the early stages of chronic leukemias, which do not worsen quickly.
Fever
Chills
Flu-like symptoms
Anemia - see also symptoms of anemia:
- Paleness
- Weakness
- Fatigue
- Tiredness
- Shortness of breath
Bleeding easily
Bruising easily
Nosebleeds
Digestive bleeding
Frequent infections
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Symptoms from collection in lymph nodes, liver and/or spleen:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Tender lymph nodes
- Swollen liver
- Tender liver
- Swollen spleen
- Tender spleen
Tiny red spots (petechiae) under the skin
Swollen gums
Bleeding gums
Sweating
Night sweats
Bone pain
Joint pain
Symptoms from collection of cells in the brain or CNS:
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Loss of muscle control
- Seizures
Swollen testicles
Eye sores
Skin sores
Digestive symptoms
Kidney symptoms
Lung symptoms

Symptoms of Leukemia: Leukemia cells are abnormal cells that cannot do what normal blood cells do. They cannot help the body fight infections. For this reason, people with leukemia often get infections and have fevers.

Also, people with leukemia often have less than the normal amount of healthy red blood cells and platelets. As a result, there are not enough red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. With this condition, called anemia, patients may look pale and feel weak and tired. When there are not enough platelets, patients bleed and bruise easily.

Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel through the body. Depending on the number of abnormal cells and where these cells collect, patients with leukemia may have a number of symptoms.

In acute leukemia, symptoms appear and get worse quickly. People with this disease go to their doctor because they feel sick. In chronic leukemia, symptoms may not appear for a long time; when symptoms do appear, they generally are mild at first and get worse gradually. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during a routine checkup -- before there are any symptoms.

These are some of the common symptoms of leukemia:

Fever, chills, and other flu-like symptoms;
Weakness and fatigue;
Frequent infections;
Loss of appetite and/or weight;
Swollen or tender lymph nodes, liver, or spleen;
Easy bleeding or bruising;
Tiny red spots (called petechiae) under the skin;
Swollen or bleeding gums;
Sweating, especially at night; and/or
Bone or joint pain.

In acute leukemia, the abnormal cells may collect in the brain or spinal cord (also called the central nervous system or CNS). The result may be headaches, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, and seizures. Leukemia cells also can collect in the testicles and cause swelling. Also, some patients develop sores in the eyes or on the skin. Leukemia also can affect the digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, or other parts of the body.

In chronic leukemia, the abnormal blood cells may gradually collect in various parts of the body. Chronic leukemia may affect the skin, central nervous system, digestive tract, kidneys, and testicles.¹

More symptoms of Leukemia: In addition to the above information, to get a full picture of the possible symptoms of this condition and its related conditions, it may be necessary to examine symptoms that may be caused by complications of Leukemia, underlying causes of Leukemia, associated conditions for Leukemia, risk factors for Leukemia, or other related conditions.

Medical articles on symptoms: These general reference articles may be of interest:

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from What You Need To Know About Leukemia: NCI

Last revision: May 30, 2003

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

Medical Articles: