Leukemia Symptoms
Leukemia is a type of cancer. Cancer is a group of many related diseases. All cancers begin in cells, which make up blood and other tissues. Normally, cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old, they die, and new cells take their place.
Sometimes this orderly process goes wrong. New cells form when the body does not need them, and old cells do not die when they should. Leukemia is cancer that begins in blood cells.
Leukemia can arise in either of the two main types of white blood cells,
lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. When leukemia affects lymphoid cells, it is
called lymphocytic leukemia. When myeloid cells are affected, the disease is
called myeloid or myelogenous leukemia.
Symptoms for each type of leukemia differ, but common symptoms include:
- Frequent infections
- Loss of appetite or weight
- Fever or chills
- Persistent fatigue, weakness
- Shortness of breath when you're physically active, such as while climbing
steps
- Tiny red marks in the skin
- Excessive sweating, especially at night
- Bone pain or tenderness
- Swollen lymph nodes, enlarged liver or spleen
- Easy bleeding or bruising
The severity of signs and symptoms depends on the number of abnormal blood
cells and where they collect. Early symptoms of leukemia may be overlooked
because they may resemble symptoms of the flu and other common illnesses.
Leukemia Symptoms to L
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