Leukemia cells, traveling throughout the body may gradually collect in various parts and can affect skin, central nervous system, digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, testicles or other parts of the body. Depending on the number of abnormal cells and where these cells collect, patients with leukemia may have a number of symptoms.

The common symptoms of leukemia include:

Mild fever, chills,other flu-like symptoms
Feeling weak or tired
Pale complexion from anemia
Frequent infections
Loss of appetite and weight
Swollen or tender lymph nodes, liver, or spleen
Prolonged bleeding from minor cuts
Pin-head sized red spots (called petechiae) under the skin
Swollen or bleeding gums
Sweating, especially at night
Slow healing of cuts
Pain in the bones or joints

The leukemia cells collected on the lining of the brain and spinal cause headache, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, and seizures.

In acute leukemia, symptoms appear and worsen quickly. In chronic leukemia, at the early stages, the leukemia cells function almost normally and 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.