What are the symptoms of leukemia?

Question

What are some of the warning signs? Ways of diagnosis?

Answer 1

Check this site for the best info:
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls
Best wishes

Answer 2

My daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia and all she had was an enlarged abdomen(from leukemia cells in her liver and spleen) and the lymph nodes in the back of her head were also big. Most people have bruising(low platelets), look very pale (low hematocrit), have bone pain(from the many leukemia cells crowding the bone marrow) and fevers (from low neutrophils). A CBC is an easy way to get an idea of leukemia but for possitive results you need a bone marrow biopsy.

Answer 3

Leukemia or cancer of the white blood cells, comes in many different varieties. It can be acute(rapid) or chronic(long-term) in onset.

Leukemia would cause generally weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, paleness, and weight loss (typical to most types of cancer).

However, some relate to the loss of bone marrow function (due to overcrowing of the cancer cells). Bone marrow produces red blood cells and white blood cells. So symptoms would include anemia(decrease red cells), easy bruising (due to decrease platelets), and increase rates of infection.

Even though the body is producting a lot of white cells in leukemia, they are immature and non-functional. They rob the body of vital nutrients.

If your experincing skin changes such paleness (due to anemia), or the other symptoms as mentioned above see your doctor.

Leukemia is diagnosed by taking a sample of your bone marrow through you hip (iliac crest) or even chest(sternum). The cells are seen by another doctor called a pathologist. He/She is an expert in recognizing cancer cells, like the cells in leukemia.

Patients with leukemia are usually treated by a Hematologist/Oncologist. He/She specializes in cancer and the diseases on the blood. Patients are usually given chemotherapy(chemo) which attack the leukemic cells.

Answer 4

There are more types than you have fingers. Lethargy is a common symptom, but then it is so for many other conditions. A CBC(complete blood count) and Differential(looking @ the blood cells under a microscope) is the best way to start the investigation.

Answer 5

The ones I know the most from my girlfriend was extreme weight loss for no reason (seemingly) but, mostly if you barely touch her she would bruise...tired, too. She had no other symptoms that she knew of. Definitely the bruising!