Leukemia Symptoms And Signs Of The Disease

Leukemia is a general term for four different types of blood cancer. There are two types of acute leukemia and two types of chronic leukemia. It begins in the bone marrow when one cell changes and becomes a leukemia cell. This cell multiplies and eventually the normal blood cells are crowded out. The abnormal cells then spill over into the blood and may also invade the central nervous system.

Leukemia symptoms may vary depending on the type of leukemia. Some of the most common symptoms are:nn* pale skinnn* tirednessnn* mild feve
n* bruisesnn* shortness of breathnn* thrombocytopenian
* petechiaenn* bone painnn* enlarged spleennn* enlarged live
n* enlarged lymph nodesnn* headachen
* vomiting

Thrombocytopenia is a low platelet count. Platelets are blood cells that help with clotting. Symtoms that are associated with thrombocytopenia are:nn* nosebleedsnn* easy bruisingnn* petechiaenn* prolonged bleeding from cutsnn* bloody stools or urinenn* unusually heavy menstrual flow

Petechiae are small red spots under the skin caused by broken blood vessels. When the platelet count is low (thrombocytopenia) petechiae may occur.

Bone pain is caused by the bone marrow expanding due to the build up of white blood cells in the bone marrow. This pain is usually felt in the long bones of the arms and legs.

The symptoms of acute leukemia develop rather quickly in contrast to chronic leukemia in which symptoms develop over time.

Some of these leukemia symptoms also mimic those of less severe illnesses but it is always best to be checked by your doctor to determine the cause of symptoms.