Leukemia
Symptoms
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. |
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